1786 CT 1/2P Hercules Head, Miller 5.3-N, BN MS(PCGS#686351)

Winter 2022 U.S. Coins Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

1336

等级

AU55BN

价格

156,784

详细说明

Extraordinary 1786 Hercules Head Connecticut Finest Graded at Either Service 1786 Connecticut Copper. Miller 5.3-N, W-2575. Rarity-2. Mailed Bust Left, Hercules Head. AU-55 (PCGS). 157.6 grains. Outstanding quality for this iconic Connecticut copper head type. Impeccable medium brown surfaces are satiny smooth and have overall high grade gloss and traces of mint frost within the protected areas of the legends and reverse clash marks. Nicely struck on a superb quality planchet, the lone flaw is neatly hidden in the Hercules head's wreath left of the eye and appears to just be part of the detail. Wonderfully hard and smooth copper in general; close scrutiny reveals only microscopic marks, a faint scratch in the right obverse field, and a thin arcing lamination above the date -- items that wouldn't even be worth mentioning if the coin weren't so perfect otherwise. Dead centered on the obverse, the reverse slightly off to 6 o'clock though some of the date is still visible. Some bluntness of strike is noted on the effigy's hair and laurel wreath, the definition there not quite as sharp as sometimes seen, but the detail overall is excellent and particularly bold on the face and mail. Usual clashed die state with strong incused detail from the obverse visible around the reverse peripheries and the die is swollen in the fields on that side. This is a significant and highly desirable specimen of the popular Hercules Head type, one of the standout examples we've seen among the fairly plentiful population. This piece is the single highest graded 1786 Hercules Head at either PCGS or NGC. The only other coin approaching this level that has appeared on the market in recent years is the Oechsner-Partrick example graded NGC AU-53 that realized $13,800 in Heritage's sale of the Partrick Collection. It was a well struck piece from a similar die state with more detail in places than the present coin but displayed rather uneven color and some patches of slightly rough patina. The absolutely choice color and surface quality of the offered Picker-Terranova-Martin example will make it preferable to many collectors. Interestingly, some of the highest grade Hercules Head coppers out there are not examples of the common 5.3-N variety, but rather of the rare to extremely rare Miller 5.3-B.2, 5.3-G, and 1787 7-I varieties. The more available 5.3-N variety is only infrequently encountered better than VF making it challenging for type collectors seeking a high grade example of the head style but not wanting to pay the premiums associated with the rarer die varieties. Though this coin will not by any means be cheap, it is a perfect candidate to represent the Hercules Head type in a high quality cabinet. 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) sale of the Richard Picker Collection, October 1984, lot 152; Anthony Terranova Collection, January 2012. Obverse plated in Randy Clark's "The Identification and Classification of Connecticut Coppers 1785-1788," pp. 233, 251. PCGS# 686351. Click here for certification details from PCGS.