1787 NY 1/2P Excelsior, Eagle Left, BN MS(PCGS#427)

Spring 2023 U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

1081

Grade

XF45BN

Price

21,600

Lot Description

Nice EF 1787 Heraldic Eagle Excelsior Copper Ex August, Siboni, and Terranova Collections 1787 New York Excelsior Copper. W-5785, Breen-980. Rarity-6. Heraldic Eagle Reverse. Eagle Facing Left, Arrows at Right. EF-45 (PCGS). 145.5 grains. 28.5 mm. 180 degree die rotation. A sharp and attractive example of this classic type. Nicely centered on both sides, with the head of the eagle and all but the lower serifs of a few letters of EXCELSIOR on the planchet. The Heraldic Eagle side shows denticles from 5 to 9 o'clock, and a full range of design elements centered on the planchet. The sharpness is excellent, and the visual appeal is nice, with golden brown surfaces and a hint of darker patina in the fields around the eagle. Some minor hairlines are seen, most noticeable in the field above the New York Arms, on either side of the tiny eagle facing left. No bad marks or flaws are seen, just some very trivial circumferential fissuring at the peripheral extremity of the Heraldic Eagle side and a single short scratch above the arrow talon. The detail, even at centers, is strong on both sides. Of the three die varieties of the Heraldic Eagle / New York Arms type of Excelsior copper, this is perhaps the most numerous, but the population is heavily imbalanced toward low grade and heavily flawed specimens. This example offers far better sharpness and visual appeal than usually encountered. Provenance: From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Tony Terranova; Richard August and Roger Siboni collections. To view supplemental information and all items from the Sydney F. Martin Collection, click here. PCGS# 427. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA. Click here to see Coins in Motion.[“Coins]