| Description |
1787 Massachusetts Half Cent, MS64 Brown Sharp Ryder 4-C ExampleEx: "Colonel" E.H.R. Green. The obverse arrow fletching touches E in WEALTH, and the period after MASSACHUSETTS is partially obscured behind an arrowhead on the 1787 Ryder 4-C. Prior to the establishment of the U.S. Mint, the individual states considered coinage production. Among those was Massachusetts, the General Court passing coinage legislation in October 1786. After delays, the Massachusetts copper coinage became a reality more than a year after that legislation was passed. Boston engraver Joseph Callender was responsible for the 1787 half cent dies, while in 1788 young silversmith Jacob Perkins of Newburyport supplied some of the dies for Massachusetts half cents and cents. Blue overtones enrich golden-brown surfaces of this lustrous, well-struck copper. A sharp strike distinguishes this near-Gem example, with bold central details and only slight blurriness at the dentils. A loupe reveals a few instances of isolated microporosity and some scattered, tiny reverse die rust lumps, none of which limit the considerable eye appeal and overall surface quality. Perhaps three dozen Mint State 1787 half cents are known, including a dozen examples of Ryder 4-C, the most plentiful variety in high grades. Census: 9 in 64 (2 in 64+) Brown, 6 finer (8/18). Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Heritage Auctions 11/2018 (Newman XI), lot15001 (realized $5040).
Heritage link: http://www.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1283&lotIdNo=11747 |
