1786 CT 1/2P Scholar's Head, Miller 3-D.1, BN MS(PCGS#686825)

Winter 2022 U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

1322

等级

AU50BN

价格

169,496

详细说明

Lustrous 1786 3-D.1 "Scholar's Head" Among the Finest Known The Guide BookPlate Coin 1786 Connecticut Copper. Miller 3-D.1, W-2510. Rarity-5-. Mailed Bust Right, Scholar's Head. AU-50 (PCGS). 144.9 grains. Yet another stupendous example of one of the other most revered head types of the 1786 Connecticut coppers. The Scholar's Head is somewhat more available than the Noble Head that precedes it, but still quite scarce in its own right and most often found in low grades. This remarkable piece is one of two high grade examples of the variety that sit at the top of the Condition Census, the other being the Oechsner-E Pluribus Unum PCGS AU-53 that realized $66,000 in our November 2020 sale. The present coin is similar to that piece in many respects. The surfaces are fresh, virtually unworn, and have a frosty mint texture. Real cartwheel luster is seen on both sides, somewhat subdued but still incredible to see on this variety. Predominantly medium brown and steel with some lighter tan in the protected areas where original mint color has just barely faded down. Softly struck at portions of the central detail, as almost always seen with these fairly high relief dies, and some original planchet porosity remains in the unstruck areas, heaviest under ET on the reverse. Aside from the natural planchet roughness, the quality is superb and the surfaces are extremely well preserved. Fine die finishing lines remain in the fields and there are no notable contact marks. This coin was quite conservatively graded at Choice Extremely Fine in our March 2000 catalog, and the AU-50 grade assigned by PCGS still seems rather strict considering the luster and lack of wear. Syd graded this coin MS-60 and even if ownership adds five points as Dr. Sheldon would say, a case could still be made for a higher grade. The Oechsner-E Pluribus Unum piece, this coin's only real competition, was graded Mint State in the Oechsner catalog and clearly worthy of that grade despite the PCGS AU-53 assessment. That coin is slightly superior to the present piece in terms of strike and luster but not too far removed, and the next best examples after these two are a handful of VFs, with perhaps one piece just cracking EF. The majority of specimens are in the G-VG range and with a quick survey of past appearances of this variety, it will quickly become clear how astonishing an example of the Scholar's Head this is. Additional information pertaining to this lot: Connecticut Coppers Welcome to the first installment in our offering of the incomparable Sydney F. Martin Collection of Connecticut Coppers. Syd's love of this series was well known and his collecting feats in this area are the stuff of legend. Like many great numismatists of the past who had an interest in colonial coins or early American coppers - Sylvester Sage Crosby, Dr. Thomas Hall, William Wallace Hays, and Hillyer Ryder to name a few - Syd was drawn to the Connecticut coppers in a profound way and pursued this set with extraordinary focus and determination, perhaps more than any other series. The appeal of the Connecticut copper coinage is multifaceted and difficult to fully capture, but their rich numismatic tradition, the series' extensive body of research, and the enthusiasm of its specialists are undeniable. The breadth and complexity of the series if pursued by die variety, beguiling to some, was no doubt part of what attracted Syd. This, combined with the fascinating history of the coinage - the colorful cast of characters involved in their production, the various minting locations, and the distinctive styles of the various types - surely added to the appeal and made the series uniquely suited to Syd's collecting mentality. For those collecting the Connecticut coppers of 1785-1788 by die variety, obtaining 200 different Miller numbers is a major achievement and considered an advanced collection. Amassing 300 different die varieties is for many serious specialists the ultimate milestone and a mark that has been eclipsed by just a small number of collectors. The largest Connecticut copper collections sold at auction include the 1975 EAC Sale (a composite of multiple collections) with 312 different varieties, the Taylor Collection sold in 1987 with 305 varieties, the Perkins Collection sold in 2000 with 302 varieties, and the Twin Leaf Collection sold in 2019, also with 302 varieties. Syd's frontline collection contains an astonishing 349 different die varieties, which out of total of 356 varieties currently known represents over 98% completion! This is an absolutely incredible feat, especially considering the amount of extremely rare to unique varieties that are needed to reach that total. The Syd Martin Collection is far and away the most complete ever formed and it's highly doubtful that this record can, or ever will be broken. The present sale features the 1785 and 1786 portion of the collection, including an incredible complete set of all 31 varieties of 1785, and 40 of 41 varieties for 1786, missing only the extremely rare Miller 5.15-S. Also included is an extremely rare 1786 "Bungtown" Connecticut, Miller 123-T ex Newman. The quality throughout is superb, with many pieces that are the clear finest known examples of their varieties and a majority that would be considered Condition Census. Many coins herein came from the personal collection of noted colonial dealer and collector Anthony Terranova, which Syd acquired privately in 2012. The outstanding condition and quality of the Terranova coins upgraded many examples already in Syd's collection and they form the backbone of the present remarkable offering, which is, needless to say, the finest and most significant collection of 1785 and 1786 Connecticuts ever presented. Several die varieties are appearing at auction here for the first time ever, such as the unique 1785 6.6-A.3, the unique 1786 4.1-H.2, and the only 1786 5.13-I in private hands. This will also be the first auction appearance of a correctly identified example of the exceedingly rare 1785 7.3-D. Numerous other important specimens are appearing here for the first time ever, or for the first time in many decades. Significant provenances abound including Dr. Hall Ink on Edge coins and specimens from the 1904 sale of the John G. Mills Collection and the 1920 sale of the Henry Miller Collection. Many have appeared as plate coins in important publications and reference works.We are thrilled to present the initial offering of Syd Martin's frontline collection of Connecticut coppers and hope that it is a celebration of his legendary accomplishment. Best of luck to the bidders in acquiring a piece of this monumental collection. Provenance: From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from our (Stack's) March 2000 sale, lot 1012; Anthony Terranova Collection, January 2012. Obverse plated in A Guide Book of United States Coinssince 2010. Plated in Randy Clark's "The Identification and Classification of Connecticut Coppers 1785-1788," pp. 222, 250, 257, and 276. PCGS# 686825. 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. Click here to see Coins in Motion.[“Coins]