1787 Connecticut Copper 1/2p M39.2-ee W4220 R5- AUCTOBI ET LIR PCGS VF30 Twin Leaf

From the Stacks Sale of the Twin Leaf collection, sold on 03/05/19 as lot #8342, and described as: “1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 39.2-ee, W-4220. Rarity-5. Draped Bust Left, AUCTOBI / ET LIR. VF-30 (PCGS).  128.7 grains. Glossy light olive brown with subtle mahogany tones in the fields. The obverse has some scattered marks, many of which might simply be planchet texture that was not struck out. Otherwise, it is hard and defect-free. The reverse has one spot of brick oxidation at Liberty’s breast, and three small natural planchet flakes. Struck from worn, flowlined, distorted and cracked dies obviously in their later states. As a result, there are wavy areas and some details are a bit mushy, but this has no effect on the technical grade, and the eye appeal overall is really quite nice. Centered a little low and left on the obverse with some losses to the tops of AUCT. On the reverse, the centering is also a little low, with the bases of the date digits affected. Nice detail overall and, again, quite handsome. Rather similar to the Perkins and Ford coins, both of which had better detail, but likely due to their earlier die states. Easily nicer than the Collection SLT coin and probably Taylor’s as well.  From the Twin Leaf Collection.  Provenance: From the Twin Leaf Collection of Connecticut & Massachusetts Coppers. Earlier ex Anthony Terranova at the 2002 EAC Convention.”  Comes with Tony Terranova’s envelope at $1,861, but nothing from the EAC or Twin Leaf sales.  However, the Twin Leaf attribution is listed on the PCGS VF30 label, as is “DB Left, AUCTOBI, M39.2-ee.”  PCGS #687283.30/36650739 and photographed on Coinfacts.  This example realized just $780 in the 2019 Twin Leaf sale to CVM, and I purchased it from Chris on 07/03/23.