Connecticut Coppers 1788

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1788        Miller 2-D                 mailed bust right - Machin's Mills counterfeit CT Copper

Obverse:  * AUCTORI .    CONNEC *
Reverse:  INDE [*] ET *     LIB *   1788

Weight:  104.8 g   (6.79 grams)                Diameter:  27.28 mm             Reverse die alignment: 150°

Comments:   This is an example of a counterfeit Connecticut copper attributed to Machin's Mills. Miller 2 is distinguished by the punctuation with five pointed stars. Note the die break connecting the first star to the foot of the A. There is a prominent die break from the rim almost up to the bottom of the mail armor and a much less visible die crack from the top of the wreath to the rim. Miller mentions a break from the final star to the rim which on this example is prominent as a dot at the rim but is only a faint crack line extending to the point on the star. Finally Miller notes the stop is distant from the I. On this specimen there are some planchet voids at the chin and a faint striation mark from that area out to the rim, just after the E.

The reverse is again distinguished by the punctuation. Also, Liberty's branch hand is opposite the star while the top of the branch points to the base of the T in ET. This coin had a large denticle border. Additionally, there are die cracks at the E in ET (worn on this example) and the I in LIB. There is a also a long but faint die crack from the bottom bow of the B down to the edge of the shield. The date is below a double exergue line, with the top line thicker. Also, on this example part of the typical Machin's Mills denticle border is visible at the bottom. This coin was removed from PCGS slab 397.25/4698363 where it had been graded as VF25.

Provenance:  Acquired through the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment from EAHA auction of January 17, 1998, lot 33.

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1788        Miller 7 - E                 mailed bust left - Machin's Mills counterfeit CT Copper

Obverse:  * AUCTORI *    * CONNEC *
Reverse:  INDE * ET *     * LIB [rosette like quatrefoil]   1788

Weight:  120.5 g   (7.81 grams)             Diameter:  27.7 mm             Reverse die alignment: 170°

Comments:   This is an example of a counterfeit Connecticut copper attributed to Machin's Mills. Miller 7 is distinguished by the large bust and the punctuation, with five pointed stars. Note that the first and last stars touch the mail. Also, the initial A slopes to the left and the NN is spread wide. This is a porous but fairly well struck example with some file marks at the top of the obverse and some planchet damage at the rim from 8:00-9:00 o'clock.

The reverse is again distinguished by the punctuation with six pointed stars and a flower like quatrefoil. Also, Liberty's branch hand is opposite the E in INDE while the top of the branch points to the corner of the E in ET. This coin had a large denticle border. Additionally, there is a die crack around the edge of the coin from the L in LIB down to top petal of the quatrefoil flower and from the right petal of the quatrefoil flower the exergue line below the shield, it is most prominent between the I and the B and after the quatrefoil. A short die crack can be seen from the bottom or lower petal of the quatrefoil to the edge of the shield. The date is below a double exergue line.

Provenance:  From the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Collection.

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1788        Miller 10 - C                 mailed bust left - Machin's Mills counterfeit CT Copper

Obverse:  AUCTORI *       * CONNEC *

Reverse:  INDE * ET       LIB *

Weight:  114.0 g   (7.39 grams)             Diameter:  28.9 mm             Reverse die alignment: 180°

Comments:  This counterfeit Connecticut copper attributed to Machin's Mills is usually overstruck on a 1785 Constellatio Nova copper. Miller 10 is distinguished by the large size bust left and the punctuation, with six pointed stars after AUCTORI as well as before and after CONNEC.   [Another more common variety, Miller 11, is similar but includes a star before AUCTORI while Miller 6 has the same punctuation as Miller 10 but with a bust right figure.]

The reverse can again be identified by the punctuation with two six pointed stars. Note that Liberty's branch hand points to the bow od the D and the top of the branch points to the right of the star above it. There is a double exergue line with the 1 and the final 8 of the date touching the bottom line. There appears to be a small die break at the points on the upper left side of the second star.

Provenance:  From the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Collection.

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1788        Miller 15. 2 - P                 Draped bust left - CT Copper

Obverse:  [cinquefoil] AUCTORI [cinquefoil]        [cinquefoil] CONNEC . [cinquefoil]
Reverse:  [cinquefoil] INDE . ET [two cinquefoils]         [cinquefoil]       [cinquefoil] LIB . [cinquefoil]   1788

Weight:  120.9 g   (7.82 grams)                  Diameter:  28.9 mm

Comments:   Attributed to Jarvis and Company by Breen, others considered it from Machin's Mills. Miller 15 is distinguished by the punctuation, which includes a final stop as well as the four cinquefoils. There are three varieties of which the present example is the second variety known as Miller 15.2. It can be distinguished in that the first cinquefoil is low in relation to the A and very close to the bust (on type one the cinquefoil is further up near the center of the A). The stop at the end of the legend is low (slightly below the C) almost in line with the cinquefoil. Unfortunately other diagnostics concern the CONNEN which is only partially on this off center obverse.

The reverse can also be distinguished by the punctuation. The branch hand is opposite the stop and the very top leaf points toward the bottom of the T. In the Taylor catalog Hodder notes that the two examples of this variety offered in the auction had a perfect medal turn while the example here is an accurately aligned coin turn.

Provenance:  From the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Collection.

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Weight:  133.0 g   (8.62 grams)             Diameter:  27.5 mm             Reverse die alignment: 60°

Comments:  This is a well worn example of an off center Connecticut copper that cannot be classified. It is a variety of the bust facing left with a cinquefoil before CONNEC and on the reverse a cinquefoil after INDE. The weight suggests it is a 1787 dated draped bust left from Jarvis and Company.

Provenance:  Donated to Notre Dame as part of the collection of Mrs. F. E. Hering.

Connecticut Coppers: 1787, p. 2	Section Contents	New Jersey Coppers: p. 1