1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 1.2-mm, W-2730. Rarity-7. Mailed Bust Right, Muttonhead. VF-35 (PCGS).
115.7 grains. The Breen Plate Coin. The so-called (by Breen) "First Muttonhead," reported by Robert Vlack only in 1961 despite the distinctly different reverse from the regular, more common Muttonhead 1.2-C die pairing. This Muttonhead is also peculiar for the completeness of the obverse design; though the central strike is a bit soft, the legends, hair, laurel leaves and lower parts of the bust are sharp and as made, before die wear and polishing necessitated a strengthening or addition of certain design elements. Surfaces are mostly smooth, dark olive brown, the fields a bit lighter ruddy brown, especially on the obverse. An area of darker patina is noted in the area bounded by the obverse effigy's chin, neck, mail, and the final C of CONNEC, and there is a trace of microscopic abrasion there where someone attended to the spot long ago. This was in the Robert M. Martin Collection, sold by us in November 2019. In his research notes, he documented this 1.2-mm as the "Finest of Four known, One of Three Verified." A few more have been discovered since the Taylor sale (including one with pair of "button" piercings), though this is still a solid Rarity-7. The Collection SLT coin, graded Fine-15 at the time, was decidedly sharper and in a slightly earlier die state than this coin but with some pits and edge bruising. It brought $109,250, the second Connecticut Copper to break the $100,000 barrier and one of just four to breach the six-figure line. Others include the Newman and Partrick 1787 1.4-WW coins, and Keller's 1785 African Head 4.2-F.6-Rarity-8 die marriages and storied types. This example of Miller 1.2-mm is less sharp than SLT's but far choicer. The finest known determination might have more to do with ownership and personal preferences than anything else, but anyone who aims for a high standard of preservation will want this one. It is among the iconic rarities in the series and a coin that always turns heads when offered for sale.
PCGS# 802842.
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From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from our (Stack's) sale of the Massachusetts Historical Society Collection, March 1973, lot 44; our (Bowers and Merena's) sale of the Frederick B. Taylor Collection, March 1987, lot 2395, our sale of the Robert M. Martin Collection, November 2019, lot 5115.

Estimate: $35000