1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 1.1-VV, W-2710. Rarity-6+. Mailed Bust Right, Small Head. INDE ETLIB. Fine Details--Gouged (PCGS).
120.7 grains. This is one of the most distinctive die marriages among Connecticut coppers, pairing the Small Head obverse used on only two varieties, with the standard INDE ET LIB reverse that shows Liberty leaning back, "almost as if blown by a strong gust of wind" as it was described in our 2019 sale of the Robert Martin Collection, where this coin last appeared. The surfaces are largely dark brown in the fields with slightly lighter mahogany tones on the devices and legends which cause them to stand out nicely in a visual sense. Rather smoothly worn with just a trace of microgranularity, largely in the more protected areas close to the relief features. Many of this variety are badly corroded, but this is generally quite pleasant beyond a series of old reverse scratches of varying severity, which long ago toned over nicely to the similar ruddy mahogany seen on the motifs. About as well struck as this die variety is found, well centered too but with the tops of INDE tight to the rim, bringing the sawtooth denticles into full view from about the 10 o'clock to 6 o'clock positions. Both dies in a state of failure, the obverse badly sunken and worn in the center and left half of the die, the reverse die subtly sunken all around. This was called "High Condition Census" on Robert Martin's envelope which is no longer associated with it, and for its sheer eye appeal, it deserves a place in the condition census; others-like the 1975 Bowers and Ruddy Scott sale piece and 1975 Pine Tree EAC coin - are sharper but less attractive, while even the 1965 Vlack plate is sharp and fully struck but is granular all around. Robert Martin had two examples of Miller 1.1-VV at one time, and chose to keep this one. Dr. Thomas Hall discovered this variety in a group of 250 Connecticuts he bought from Charles Steigerwalt in November 1897.
PCGS# 686402.
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From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from New Netherlands 51st Sale, June 1958, lot 82; our (Bowers and Merena's) sale of the Frederick B. Taylor Collection, March 1987, lot 2392; our sale of the Robert M. Martin Collection, November 2019, lot 5113.

Estimate: $7500