1786 Connecticut Copper, Miller 5.3-N HERCULES HEAD - sold earlier as 5..3-B.2!

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1786 Connecticut copper. Miller 5.3-N. Rarity-2. Hercules Head variety. Fine or so in terms of strike and wear, from the very late die state of the reverse which weakens details in the field and lower half, as is usually seen on the variety. The obverse - the more important side! - is bold, with the legend full, though some letters are weaker than others they can all be seen, and the curious bust showing ample design detail within. The 1786 Mailed Bust Left dies were mostly made from master hubs, with the dies touched up by hand - for some reason this obverse received a MAJOR touch-up, with the bust gaining musculature and a determined expression, accounting for the nickname it received well over 150 years ago. The reverse die is failing dramatically, affecting the date and the last two letters of the legend, the rest of the legend visible, the tops of INDE off the planchet as centered. The seated liberty figure is weak, with some details showing above the waist, but not many, the legs and such all lost to the die failure. This example was from the Peter Scherff collection and was sold by Stack's in March, 2010 where this appeared as Lot 2309. In that sale it was noted that it was bought as the extremely rare 5.3-B.2 from Colonial Trading Company for a price of $1500. Unfortunately it is not that variety (which today would be worth about $30,000 even in this grade!) but is the Miller 5.3-N, the reverse clearly showing the die failure and making one wonder why it was misattributed in the first place! Both the Stack's and the original Colonial Trading Company tickets are included, and the coin is plated and described in the Stack's sale. A few trivial circulation marks are consistent with the grade. A major type coin in the series, this obverse comes with three 1786 dated reverses, two of which are extremely rare - and a single 1787 dated reverse, which is very rare, so this variety is really the only way to collect the Hercules Head type . This general type is pictured and listed on Page 61 of the 2016 edition of The Redbook [which has had massive pricing updates, and is now FAR more accurate than it ever has been, even though it resulted in lowering of prices for many common type coins!] (1786, Hercules Head type), with Fine's at $500; this is offered here WITHOUT RESERVE. The newly-published book on colonials by Q. David Bowers, the Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins, lists this type as his W-2575 (page 109), where the type is priced a bit higher than the Redbook, VG at $225 and solid Fine at $650. Winning bidder to add $4 for postage and insurance - ALL items we sell are sent via insured mail [or Registered mail for items over $500]. California residents must add appropriate sales tax. The pictures are of the actual coin being offered, and have been enlarged in size to show the detail - and we have included pictures in both color and black and white, of both sides of the coin, as well as a combined photo showing both sides. This item has NOT been graded or slabbed by one of the services, and we urge you to examine the photos for yourself and from your own opinion as to grade; we have over 25 years' experience as professional dealers in US colonial coinage - and another 15 years prior to that as collectors of the series as well. As always, we offer a full, no-questions-asked return policy of 14 days after receipt of the coin if it fails to meet your needs in ANY way - AND WE OFFER ONE OF THE STRONGEST RETURN GUARANTEES ON E-BAY, though it has seldom been used; please check out our Feedback Profile or e-mail any comments or questions that you may have. Thank you again for your interest, and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. read more

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