1788 CT 1/2P CONNLC, Miller 17-Q, BN MS(PCGS#687244)

March 2021 U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

1454

Grade

AU58BN

Price

7,200

Lot Description

1788 Connecticut Copper. Miller 17-Q, W-4640. Rarity-5+. Draped Bust, CONNLC. AU-58 (PCGS). 108.7 grains. A thoroughly attractive specimen of this challenging variety, one that is making its first market appearance in nearly three decades. Easily one of the finest known; Ford's looks better, but this piece is finer overall. Considerably finer than Taylor:2735; not quite as sharp as Roper:266 in some areas, but considerably bolder in most areas of the design; undoubtedly finer than Pine Tree/EAC:323, being sharper in most areas than that coin and lacking the obverse striations illustrated for the piece. Overall sharpness easily approaches Oechsner:1214, noticeably free of the peripheral weakness displayed by that piece. The obverse (Obverse 50 of 1787) has begun to show cracks at this later stage of its use. The most prominent of these can be seen in the obverse effigy's drapery and in the field before the face. On the reverse, a zigzag break runs from the first cinquefoil before INDE, underlining that word and nearly touching the effigy's branch hand, where it turns immediately left and through the letter E in INDE. Some very minor faintness is noted at the tops of the letters CON on the obverse, IB on the reverse. A tiny, shallow planchet fissure is seen in the area of the globe and shield on the reverse. A few tiny nicks can be seen under low magnification, otherwise a very choice coin for the variety. This high grade, medium brown example should see serious bidding activity when present to an appreciation audience of Connecticut copper connoisseurs. When offered in our (Bowers and Merena's) January 1994 sale, this piece was further described as: "This is the first time in over 50 years that this particular specimen of M 17-Q has been offered in the numismatic marketplace. It came to us unattributed in an old gray 2x2 envelope with the handwritten annotation 'Picked up in 1937.' Our consignor's father paid $1 for this specimen!" The present offering, therefore, represents only the second for this coin in nearly 80 years. Provenance: From our (Bowers and Merena's) Lexington Collection sale, January 1984, lot 94. Lot tag included. PCGS# 687244. 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.