1788 VT 1/2P Bust Right, RR-20, BN MS(PCGS#800835)

June 2020 U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

221

Grade

VF30BN

Price

2,400

Lot Description

1788 Vermont Copper. RR-20, Bressett 10-L, W-2150. Rarity-4. Bust Right. VF-30 (PCGS). 113.1 grains. Deep golden-tan surfaces are glossy and hard. The obverse centering is strong with the rim just to the top of the letter V in VERMON, no marks of consequence present, tiny patch of planchet roughness below effigy. Faint die cracks are present on the obverse, one from the ribbon ends to E, another from the border to M, and another from R that curves upward across the M to the border above O. The reverse is equally well centered with only the denticulation from 7 to 1 o'clock off the flan. Die crack at the digits 178 of date, but evidently this is an early reverse state as none of the other usual cracks are seen. Tiny, natural fissures, as made, are seen just above the date and at the top left of the shield, best seen under low magnification. The most often seen weights for this variety are in the range of 115 to 125 grains -- the present piece falls slightly below this range. As exemplified by the present example, RR-20 features some of the finest planchet stock in the Vermont copper series. Even so, this variety is rare in grades above Choice VF. The primary Partrick coin (Heritage, January 2015, lot 5793) is a strong contender for finest known. Choice for the grade, both physically and aesthetically, the coin offered here approaches the Carlotto plate coin for overall sharpness. Provenance: From the Q. David Bowers Collection. Acquired from the Frisco Mint, January 10, 2017. Earlier ex Anthony Terranova; Dan Freidus; our sale of the Dan Freidus Collection, November 2012 Baltimore Auction, lot 6668. PCGS# 800835. 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.