1787 CONNCT Connecticut Copper, Small Head Right, ETLIB INDE, M. 1.1-A, W-2700, R.3, VF35 NGC. Die alignment: 170?. Strong obverse detail from a firm strike provides this well-centered copper with the eye appeal needed to transcend several green corrosion spots on both sides. The reverse detail is not as strong, due to a sinking die in the center, but it remains fairly distinct. Both sides are somewhat granular, more notably the reverse. The 1.1 obverse was also used to create the 1788 Miller 1.I / Ryder 39, a Connecticut obverse muled with a Vermont reverse, one of the intriguing Machin's Mills products that make the various state copper series so much fun. A second example of Miller 1.1-A, with this piece virtually identical in sharpness to the one sold in Part IV of the Newman Collection. It is similar to the Keller example that we sold in October 2010. The 1787 Connecticut Small Head obverse was also mated with reverse die VV; it is elusive in that other combination with only about a dozen known. The Small Head coppers always enjoy strong demand from type collectors and variety specialists. Listed on page 63 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15030, realized $1140. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1786 CONNCT Connecticut Copper, Mailed Bust Left, M. 5.5-M, W-2595, R.3, AU55 NGC. Die alignment: 195?. A Choice AU 1786 Connecticut copper is always remarkable, and the present coin seems certain to rank high among its few peers. Light tan coloration with copper undertones mellows to darker brown in a few areas mostly on the obverse. While the centers are a bit weakly struck, the peripheries are rather strong, with a bold date and legends. There are few surface marks -- indeed, the original envelope accompanying this piece calls it uncirculated. Superior to any of the Ford, Taylor, or Perkins pieces. The reverse is a somewhat early die state, for while the crack extending clockwise from INDE is visible, the die failure at Liberty's shins is just becoming apparent. Listed on page 63 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15029, realized $4560. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1786 CONNCT Connecticut Copper, Mailed Bust Left, M. 5.5-M, W-2595, R.3, AU55 NGC. Die alignment: 195?. A Choice AU 1786 Connecticut copper is always remarkable, and the present coin seems certain to rank high among its few peers. Light tan coloration with copper undertones mellows to darker brown in a few areas mostly on the obverse. While the centers are a bit weakly struck, the peripheries are rather strong, with a bold date and legends. There are few surface marks -- indeed, the original envelope accompanying this piece calls it uncirculated. Superior to any of the Ford, Taylor, or Perkins pieces. The reverse is a somewhat early die state, for while the crack extending clockwise from INDE is visible, the die failure at Liberty's shins is just becoming apparent. Listed on page 63 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15029, realized $4560. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1786 CONNCT Connecticut Copper, Hercules Head, M. 5.3-N, W-2575, R.2, XF40 NGC. Die alignment: 180?. An ideal candidate for inclusion in a Colonial type set, being an exceptional example of the only generally collectible variety of the Hercules Head. Lovely medium-brown coloration with tan highlights augments this well-centered coin. The planchet flaws endemic to these pieces mostly avoid the face on this one, and it has few post-strike problems. The reverse is an early state; die buckling, just discernable here, causes most examples to have weak detail, often made worse by clashing. White lettering on the edge confirms the Hall provenance. Listed on page 63 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Dr. Thomas Hall (1909); Virgil M. Brand; Brand Estate; Burdette G. Johnson (1937); Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15028, realized $3600. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1786 CONNCT Connecticut Copper, Hercules Head, M. 5.3-N, W-2575, R.2, XF40 NGC. Die alignment: 180?. An ideal candidate for inclusion in a Colonial type set, being an exceptional example of the only generally collectible variety of the Hercules Head. Lovely medium-brown coloration with tan highlights augments this well-centered coin. The planchet flaws endemic to these pieces mostly avoid the face on this one, and it has few post-strike problems. The reverse is an early state; die buckling, just discernable here, causes most examples to have weak detail, often made worse by clashing. White lettering on the edge confirms the Hall provenance. Listed on page 63 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Dr. Thomas Hall (1909); Virgil M. Brand; Brand Estate; Burdette G. Johnson (1937); Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15028, realized $3600. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1786 CONNCT Connecticut Copper, Large Head Right, Miller 3-D.1, W-2510, High R.5, VF30 NGC. Die alignment: 150?. The obverse is well-centered, with detailed hair and bust, and distinct legends. The reverse is a bit off-center toward 8 o'clock, but maintains a clear date and lettering. The olive-brown toning is fairly uniform over slightly granular surfaces. There is a pre-striking planchet clip at 7 o'clock. A well-preserved piece, boasting more detail than either the Ford or Taylor/Perkins example, both of which also had a planchet clip. White lettering on the edge confirms the Hall provenance. Listed on page 63 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Dr. Thomas Hall (1909); Virgil M. Brand; Brand Estate; Burdette G. Johnson (1937); Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15027, realized $3600. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1786 CONNCT Connecticut Copper, Large Head Right, Miller 3-D.1, W-2510, High R.5, VF30 NGC. Die alignment: 150?. The obverse is well-centered, with detailed hair and bust, and distinct legends. The reverse is a bit off-center toward 8 o'clock, but maintains a clear date and lettering. The olive-brown toning is fairly uniform over slightly granular surfaces. There is a pre-striking planchet clip at 7 o'clock. A well-preserved piece, boasting more detail than either the Ford or Taylor/Perkins example, both of which also had a planchet clip. White lettering on the edge confirms the Hall provenance. Listed on page 63 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Dr. Thomas Hall (1909); Virgil M. Brand; Brand Estate; Burdette G. Johnson (1937); Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15027, realized $3600. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1785 CONNCT Connecticut Copper, Bust Left, Miller 8-D, W-2455, High R.5, XF45 NGC. Die alignment: 195?. Rarely seen this nice. The obverse die has a sunken center, resulting in ghostly facial features. The reverse is affected by the imbalance in striking pressure, with details toward the center also being soft. Unlike most examples of this variety, however, this piece bears a full date and legends as well as strong details in the mailed bust and in much of Liberty. A well-centered copper with light tan surfaces, a touch of microgranularity, and a few planchet striations. Only eight of these were known at the time of the 1975 Pine Tree EAC sale; while considered more common now, decent ones remain elusive. Listed on page 63 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15026, realized $12000. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1785 CONNCT Connecticut Copper, Bust Left, Miller 8-D, W-2455, High R.5, XF45 NGC. Die alignment: 195?. Rarely seen this nice. The obverse die has a sunken center, resulting in ghostly facial features. The reverse is affected by the imbalance in striking pressure, with details toward the center also being soft. Unlike most examples of this variety, however, this piece bears a full date and legends as well as strong details in the mailed bust and in much of Liberty. A well-centered copper with light tan surfaces, a touch of microgranularity, and a few planchet striations. Only eight of these were known at the time of the 1975 Pine Tree EAC sale; while considered more common now, decent ones remain elusive. Listed on page 63 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15026, realized $12000. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

1787 CENT Massachusetts Cent, Arrows in Right Talon, Ryder 2a-F, W-6070, High R.6 -- Improperly Cleaned -- NGC Details. AU. Die alignment: 165?. One of the classic rarities of the Colonial series, the 1787 Transposed Arrows variety of Massachusetts cent ranks with the Date Under Plowbeam New Jersey pieces as among the most distinctive types of state copper coinage struck in the Confederation era. On this variety only, the eagle clutches the arrows in its right talons (the left from the viewer's perspective). It is also the only variety of Massachusetts copper coin with the word CENT on the shield struck in relief rather than in incuse lettering (though not visible on this example). For these reasons, the Transposed Arrows cent is considered a separate type rather than simply another die variety. This is a high-grade example, albeit one that has been improperly cleaned at some point in the past, probably quite long ago. The surfaces are retoning to a light brown, with the bright copper coloring relegated to the protected areas of the legends and central devices. The surfaces show microgranularity under magnification, but little in the way of marks. A bit of planchet roughness can be seen throughout WEALTH to the right of the Indian. The granularity is more pronounced on the reverse, and a couple of spots of darker toning are present near the H of MASSACHUSETTS and the 1 of the date, but these are hardly distracting. Its strike is firm toward the peripheries of the coin, being softer in the center. The 1787-dated Massachusetts cents are the first coins struck within the United States to bear that denomination. They display a quintessentially American design -- the Native American and eagle -- as opposed to features based largely on British halfpence. The Transposed Arrows variety has long been acknowledged as a major rarity. Crosby knew only of four pieces in 1875. Breen could only provide provenances for five examples over a century later, listing a sixth and seventh merely as "Rumored" in his Complete Encyclopedia (the current coin was not included by him). Michael Hodder, cataloging the Ford example in 2004, traced 10. Researcher Mike Packard currently estimates 17 or so survivors. Listed on page 61 of the 2018 Guide Book. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

Heritage Newman IX, November 2017, lot 15025, realized $55200. Images and description courtesy of Heritage Auctions.