| "About Uncirculated".
Robert A. Vlack - George Perkins - Stack's "George Perkins"
sale, January 2001, Lot 323, illustrated - offered by Rosa Americana,
Ltd. as eBay #1263610221 on August 9, 2001, where it was described as
follows: "1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 31.2-r.3. Rarity-1.
This is the GEORGE PERKINS SPECIMEN offered as Lot 323 of the Stack’s
January, 200 sale of his collection where it was plated and described by
Michael Hodder as follows: '135.8 grains. About Uncirculated. Dark
orange tan obverse, with an area of deeper charcoal (apparently inactive
verdigris) on the left rim; reverse a similar shade, undisturbed by
additional toning. Fields smooth and hard to the naked eye on both sides
(save at left obverse), centers a trifle granular. Small obverse field
flaw below second N; heavier reverse flaw below Liberty’s branch hand,
running through the bottom of the branch, intruding into D at left but
not reaching the rim. Perfectly centered, with a full date. High
Condition Census for the variety, in the top rank along with 3 other
coins that grade AU and better than the next level, which includes 3
EF’s. Usually seen medallic turn reverse. Later die states, as
Taylor:2475, the obverse broken at top.' George purchased this coin from
noted dealer Robert A. Vlack in 1984, and in the succeeding 16 years was
never able to locate a finer example. Indeed, in his original
handwritten envelope for this coin, George grades it “AU (Poss.
Unc.)” and calls it “Finest Known, Later Die State.” A stunning
example, with an incredible amount of eye appeal and choice color and
surface quality. Exceeded in our experience by just two pieces – the
spotty but fully Uncirculated example in the EAC ’75 sale and the AU
Dr. Hall – Hessberg coin (which brought $1210 even in that weak
market). This one is nicer than the AU piece on Stack’s 1997 fixed
price list (a tad bit weaker but with better surface color and gloss
than that coin), and the slightly weaker AU we offered on our last Fixed
Price list; this one is clearly HIGH IN THE CONDITION CENSUS for the
variety. As Michael Hodder noted, everything else has been in lower
grades – EF examples were in Norweb, Oecshner, Taylor and the 1995 C4
convention sale; incidentally, the first three of these show that
striking weakness is quite common for the variety, as each of them are
rather weak EF’s, with the Oecshner and Taylor pieces actually being
graded as VF in their respective sales! True VF’s are in the permanent
collections of the ANS and the CNL Foundation, as well as the
Boyd-Brand-Ryder and Picker Reference Collection sales. While this is
one of the more common of Connecticut copper varieties in grades of up
to VF or so, it is still very difficult to find any nicer. The surviving
number of AU and Uncirculated Connecticut coppers is minuscule, even
with 350+ varieties known, and the vast majority of these have long
since been incorporated into large, private collections of this series.
Take a look at the few sales that included a large number of high-grade
Connecticut coppers – EAC ’75, Garrett, Roper, Taylor, Hessberg and
Oecshner leading the list – and see how few of those have reappeared
after their initial offerings. This is a most pleasing example, and one
that will fit in nicely to an extremely high-grade variety or type set;
with the addition of the incomparable pedigree, it will certainly be a
highlight of any collection. Accompanied by the original lot ticket for
the Stack’s January, 2000 sale, as well as George Perkins’ original
handwritten envelope and Robert Vlack’s original typed envelope– all
fascinating and important pieces of numismatic history."
"Fine-12" Ex -
Early American History Auctions, Inc.'s Mail Bid Sale, April 21, 2001, Lot 1047,
where it was described as follows: "1787 CT Copper, Draped Bust
Left, Miller 31.2-r.3, Fine. 137.5 grains. Rarity 2 (Common).
A pleasing, tan-colored example, with slightly darker fields. The
reverse boasts a completely full date."
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