By James McCartney – Senior Numismatist, Stack’s Bowers ……..
Collecting a Ryder-26 1788 Vermont copper can be a significant challenge for colonial collectors. Vermont specialist Tony Carlotto noted in his 1998 reference that it “is one of the classic rarities in the Vermont series. It is not a distinctive type or sub-type, but is genuinely rare.” More recently, Dave Bowers suggests in his new (2018) reference that as few as nine examples might exist, saying “it is one of the well-known key rarities in the original Ryder listing.”
Considered a Rarity-6+ variety, it has been six years since Stacks Bower’s has offered an example in any grade. Most examples are heavily worn or have problems. This Condition Census example of the variety is lot 6267 of our October 2018 Baltimore Winter Expo Auction.
Graded Fine-15 by PCGS, it is graded higher than even the Taylor-Partrick specimen called Fine-12 by NGC. Presented as part of the Cohasco Collection, this Vermont copper is now available for the first time in many decades and is sure to draw significant attention from specialists.
The offered Ryder-28 is truly extraordinary with rich golden brown across the high points and deep chestnut patina in the fields. The surfaces are overall glossy, with a minor granularity apparent under scrutiny.
The strike is ideally centered on both sides, leaving the legends tightly aligned to the borders. A few old pin scratches cross the obverse portrait, though these have been worn into the surrounding patina.
The reverse shows an angled mark at the top of the shield, though this is similarly ancient and not distracting in the least. A diagnostic crack bisects the upper reverse horizontally from 10 to 1 o’clock, essentially beheading the seated figured at the chin. This attractive specimen combines strong eye appeal with immense rarity.
This Ryder-26 1788 Vermont copper is being offered as part of the Cohasco Collection in The October 2018 Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.
Assembled in the 1960s and comprising over 425 pieces, the Cohasco Collection touches upon a wide range of colonial issues including Massachusetts silver, St. Patrick coinage, the coins of William Wood, state coinages, and Fugio coppers, among many others.
The Cohasco Collection will be presented in our session of early American and related issues, which will be held in conjunction with the Colonial Coin Collectors Club (C4). The sale is available for viewing and bidding on our website www.StacksBowers.com, or you may contact our offices to secure a printed catalog. To speak with a numismatic representative, please call 800-458-4646 or email [email protected]. Also, download our mobile app to view and participate in our auctions via your Android or Apple device.
