From the Rosa Americana fixed price list #25, where Jeff Rock gave an impressively thorough description: “33. 1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 42-kk.2, W-4245. Low Rarity-5. Draped Bust Left, AUCTOPI, ET IIB. Very Fine, a pleasing example of this major type coin, boasting a legend cutting error on each side – the obverse reading AUCTOPI instead of AUCTORI, the reverse reading ETIIB instead of ETLIB, with both of these errors particularly bold on this coin. The date at the bottom of the reverse is mostly full, weaker than the legends but all visible. The obverse bust is a trifle flat on the drapery, but this is how the variety usually comes, and there is enough drapery, hair, and facial detail to justify the full VF grade, while the reverse shows a bold branch and shield, and solid detail in the seated figure’s dress. Very attractive dark brown fields with lighter than devices, giving a nice two-tone look to the piece. There is a small striation hidden in the obverse bust’s hair, and the expected trivial light marks from circulation on either side, none disturbing, and overall the coin has a very nice look. This was the Phillip W. Keller example of the variety, and is accompanied by his original envelope showing its purchase nearly 70 years ago from Hollinbeck Coins, the forerunner of Kagin’s today. Always popular as a naked-eye type coin, there are only a couple higher-grade examples of the variety, such as the Old New England coin, sold by Stack’s Bowers at the 2020 ANA, an AU coin that had been off the market for nearly a century and was completely unknown to collectors, who certainly appreciated the quality and bid it up to $2,280, while Partrick’s lesser AU brought $1,980 when sold last year. Robert Martin’s EF brought $1,560 in the weakest market for the series in half a century. Most collectors have had to settle for lesser grades – the EAC ’75 and Taylor coins were F/VF, Eric Newman had a Fine that was from the Colonel Green collection, and generally a VF is about the best a collector can hope to acquire, save those rare instances when a major collection hits the auction block – and when that happens, bidding wars usually ignite! One of the prettiest examples we’ve had in the last two decades. $750. Accompanied by Keller’s original envelope, as described and depicted above.” Jeff is right, this is a very attractive example with bold AUCTOPI, ET IIB, and most of the date.
