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1788 Ryder 3-E MA cent - Perkins
Obverse: COMMON [star] WEALTH
Reverse: MASSACHUSETTS . 1788
Weight: 152.4 g (9.87 grams) Diameter: 29.12 mm Reverse die alignment: 180°
Comments: Produced from a die by Jacob Perkins. The obverse can be distinguished as obverse 3 in that the top of the bow ascends to the top of the N in the legend and the ray of the star points towards the Indian's throat. Additionally, the butt of the arrow points towards the left of the E. There is also a diebreak at the letter N, which in this example goes to the rim. Obverse 3 was joined with reverses A and E. On this specimen there are several planchet striation marks across the front. The example was removed from an encased slab, where it had been assigned a PCGS grade of VF-35 (311.35/4775292).
The reverse can be distinguished as reverse E in that the lower left leaf of the olive branch touches the eagle's claw while opposite the third arrow from the right touches the eagle's wing tip. In all there are seven arrows in the eagle's talon with the fifth arrow from the right pointing to the bottom feather in the second row. The upper line above the date is heavy and in the date the central numerals 78 are lower than the outer numerals. In the legend the M and A are closer together than the A and S. Also, this is one of a few varieties where the final S ends above the point of the wing tip.This reverse was combined with obverses 3 and 11. This die shows the distinctive S with long serifs at either end, attributed to Perkins, giving it the appearance of being "closed" when compared with the less pronounced serifs on the "open" S in the dies attributed to Callender.
Provenance: Acquired through the the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment from the EAHA auction of January 17, 1998, lot 42.
