Rarity: Very Common

Images courtesy of Early American History Auctions, Inc.

Significant examples:
"Choice Uncirculated" (illustrated above).  Ex - Early American History Auctions, Inc.'s Mail Bid Sale, April 21, 2001, Lot 1059, where it was described as follows: "1788 MA Cent, Period after MASSACHUSETTS, Ryder 10-L, Choice Uncirculated.  146.3 grains. A choice tan example of this popular type. Although the details in the center are weak due to the strike, you will be hard pressed to find any wear on this coin. Even the GUIDEBOOK plate coin isn't as attractive and as natural-looking as this beauty." - Early American History Auctions, Inc.'s Mail Bid Sale, August 25, 2001, Lot 1402, illustrated

Recent appearances:
PCGS AU-58.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Pre-Long Beach Sale", September 23 & 24, 2002, Lot 59, illustrated

PCGS AU-50 (illustrated below).  Ex - Early American History Auctions, Inc.'s Mail Bid Sale, April 21, 2001, Lot 1060, where it was described as follows: "1788 MA Cent, Period after MASSACHUSETS, Ryder 10-L, PCGS graded About Uncirculated-50.  152.3 grains. Choice, glossy, light brown color. Except for some tiny lamination flaws in the metal in the upper right obverse field, the surfaces are as choice and as smooth as a collector could hope to find on a Massachusetts Cent. Worth a nice premium because of the above-average quality."

PCGS EF-40.  Ex - Superior Stamp & Coin's "The ANA 2000 National Money Show Auction", March 2-3, 2000, Lot 17

"Extremely Fine".  Ex - Early American History Auctions, Inc.'s Mail Bid Sale, December 9, 2000, Lot 867, where it was described as follows: "1788 MA Cent, Ryder 10-L, Extremely Fine.  166.1 grains. Scattered surface granularity and a small rim ding at 7:00 on the reverse." - Early American History Auctions, Inc.'s Mail Bid Sale, April 21, 2001, Lot 1064 - Early American History Auctions, Inc.'s Mail Bid Sale, August 25, 2001, Lot 1403, illustrated

PCGS VF-30.  Ex - Paul Arthur Norris - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Pre-Long Beach Sale", September 23 & 24, 2002, Lot 60, illustrated - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. "The Benson Collection, Part III", February 24-25, 2003, Lot 20, illustrated, unattributed, sold for $333.50

"VF-25".  Superior Galleries' "Pre-Long Beach Coin Sale", May 27-29, 2001, Lot 1015, plated, where it was described as follows: "1788 Massachusetts Cent Ryder 10-L Rarity-2 VF25. Glossy chocolate brown with a hint of reddish chocolate and olive. There is a very thin fissure on the edge behind the indian's head and a barely visible lamination over the A in MASSACHUSETTS. Otherwise the surfaces are smooth and virtually flawless. Weight 149.7 grains."