Rarity: Extremely Rare

Variety equivalents:
Breen 735

Notes:
Despite the fact that all examples of the Ryder 5 are counterfeits, they are still eagerly collected as part of the Vermont Coppers series.  Two types are known -- cast copies and struck copies.  All are extremely rare, with the struck copy being the rarer of the two.  In recent years, fakes of the cast copies have appeared on the market.  Unfortunately, the only way to tell the fakes is to compare them to known examples (because they were cast, each coin carries its own individual characteristics, much like snowflakes, so if you find two coins with similar or identical characteristics, one or both is/are fake).  Generally, collectors only have to contend with fakes of real coins.  In this case, they must beware of fakes of fakes!

Significant examples:
In the February 2005 issue of NUMISMATIST (page 63), William Anton offered a Vermont RR5 Struck Variety for $285,000.00, describing it as follows: "As Struck Uncirculated.  Only three in private hands."

Sub-varieties (2):
Ryder 5C - Cast copy
Ryder 5S - Struck copy

Sources and/or recommended reading:
"Copper Coins of Vermont" by Tony Carlotto