1785 Nova Constellatio Copper. Crosby 4-C, W-1900. Rarity-5. CONSTELLATIO, Pointed Rays. AU-58 (PCGS).
116.7 grains. An exceptional piece from the Ford Collection. While two examples of this variety were headlined "A Pair of Superior Cr.4-C 1785 Nova Constellatios," the first hammered at $1,400 in 2005 while this one hammered at $8,000. The surfaces are glossy and attractive, toned an ideal medium olive brown. Some natural striations are seen on the obverse, and a tiny rim nick is noted on the reverse above B of LIBERTAS. The obverse is pretty well centered, though the periphery shows its typical softness, while the reverse is aligned to 9 o'clock. Archangel's PCGS MS-61 BN (our sale of October 2018, lot 7063) brought $7,200 and was absolutely lovely. A raw Unc. in our September 2006 sale brought a then-surprising $17,250, and Partrick's NGC MS-64 BN brought $13,200 in March 2021. High grade examples of this variety are few and far between, and most that grade higher than this aren't particularly pretty either. We've sold only the two Mint State coins mentioned above in the last 20 years, and the Partrick coin is the only Mint State example Heritage has ever offered.
PCGS# 45405.
From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from Thomas Elder's sale of October 1924, lot 2090; Hillyer Ryder to F.C.C. Boyd; F.C.C. Boyd estate to John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stack's) sale of the Ford Collection, Part V, October 2004, lot 52; Roger Siboni, November 2006.

Estimate: $2200