Houston Jan 2025

LOT 175 1787 Connecticut Miller 33.29-Z.7 R5+ DBL VF20 . Glossy medium brown and light chocolate. The planchet is not round, more elliptical, and while it is reasonably smooth there are some flaws. They include a shallow void on the shoulder on the obverse, a chip out of the rim before the face of the seated figure, and narrow voids at the bottom of the reverse. The only notable contact mark is a minor rim bruise at ND in INDE. The die state is extremely late, the latest we have seen, with extensive swelling on the obverse and myriad die cracks on both sides. The 1 in the date is partial and the other digits are not present due to the opposing swelling, but the legends are strong except for the U in AUCTORI that was another casualty of the late die state. A very interesting Connecticut copper. Weight 125.2 grains.

Ex Jesse Patrick, 2002 C-4 Sale, McCawley & Grellman Auctions 11/16/2002:165-2007 C-4 Sale, McCawley & Grellman Auctions 12/1/2007:174 (includes the Patrick collection note and both lot tickets)

 SUPERBLY PEDIGREED MILLER 33.31-GG.2

LOT 176 1787 Connecticut Miller 33.31-gg.2 R5+ DBL, PCGS graded XF45 . An ET LIR variety. Attractive glossy light to medium brown. Looks smooth to the unaided eye but a glass reveals traces of microscopic roughness in a few places. The only notable planchet flaw is a chip just left of the waist of the seated figure. Nicely struck except for weakness at the top of the head, CO in CONNEC, and on the lower part of the seated figure. The date is strong but is tight to the edge of the planchet, and the legends are mostly bold. Clear doubling is evident on both sides, strongest along the profile on the obverse. The variety attribution is written in light yellow ink as 33-37/G2.2 on the head, a method of marking used by Connecticut collector William Wallace Hays (although he misattributed the obverse on this one). In addition there is a small “3” written at the shoulder (the estimated rarity rating) and a larger “52” in red on the lower part of the seated figure. Weight 133.3 grains. A very nice piece, superior to the Taylor and Perkins examples, and it comes with a great provenance. The attribution and Robert M. Martin Collection provenance are noted on the PCGS label. Certification Number 686331.45/38156259 Ex William Wallace Hays Collection, via Charles Steigerwalt Fixed Price List 10/1903 (collection sold intact)-Hillyer Ryder Collection-F. C. C. Boyd Collection John J. Ford, Jr., Stack’s 5/10/2005:410-Robert M. Martin Collection, Stack’s Bowers 11/15/2019:5228 (includes the Hays round card and Martin collection envelope)

59 Photos of all lots can be found at www.earlycentsauctions.com