A Connecticut Copper I've Never Seen

[Vermonter]

I've dug a few Connecticut coppers, but not like this one. The obverse appears to be a bust facing left variety, with CONNEC clearly visible down the right side. I don't recognize the left side. It doesn't look like AUCTORI. The reverse is way different. No INDE. It looks like LIB ERTAS broken up along the base (where the date should be) followed by ET and then an illegible word. No date I can see. What's up with this coin? Some odd counterfeit?

 

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[Evolution]

Looks like it might say Constellatio. Interesting. I'm no expert but I'm gonna stay tuned in to see what we can find out on this one. Excellent find!

 

[nhbenz]

I have a feeling this'll be on the banner soon. Great find, whatever it turns out to be.

 

[Brian W]

It's an over strike....there is a 1788 version.on a constellatio

Fantastic find....congratulations

 

[Dirtwisher]

That looks freakin awesome. Can't wait fir the experts to weigh in!

 

[Diamondman307]

Looks like a banner...I just got that feeling. Good luck.

 

[l.cutler]

Some of the Connecticut as well as New Jersey coppers were overstruck on other coins. It was cheaper to reuse old coppers than to use new blanks. Yours was struck on a Nova Constellatio copper. Rarity and value would depend on the variety.

 

[trapperart]

Congrats, can't wait to see what the outcome will be

 

[CRUSADER]

 

[against the wind]

Very nice,, you guys are really good.
Congratulations

 

[dts52]

Great find. Very interesting, should be a banner.
HH
dts

 

[Vermonter]

Thanks everyone. I didn't know about the lighter Nova Constellatio coins being used as cheaper planchets for the state coppers! I don't quite understand how large portions of the original coin were obliterated but other portions (around the edge) came through. On the obverse, CONSTELLATIO is completely visible where AUCTORI would be, but NOVA is gone from the other side and CONNEC shows clear. On the reverse, it appears to be mixed up even more, with portions of the lettering from both dies showing. I did a couple animated gifs with the two layers. Not sure if they'll display.

Needless to say, I'm thrilled to have such an interesting find. Not sure about value, but doesn't really matter. It's pretty toasted like all the coppers I seem to find. If I had known, I might not have been quite as aggressive at first with cleaning, but I didn't go too far I don't think.

 

[btjbtj]

Wow. Just WOW! Congrats. Seems like a once-in-a-lifetime find. -Lisa & John

 

[huntsman53]

Congrats on an awesome and not often dug find! Depending upon what some of the experts on these early Coppers say, it might be worth having the coin conserved as well as certified as genuine. Not sure that PCGS or NGC would give a true grade but they might give a details grade.


Frank

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[hogge]

It's called a "Mule". Tremendous find! Congrats...........Hogge

 

[l.cutler]

Actually a mule would be mismatched obverse and reverse dies. This one is just overstruck on an already struck coin.

 

[deershed]

Very Nice!!

 

[Cosmo3]

Very cool and interesting.

 

[ironhorse]

hey that's a pretty cool thing!

when something goes wrong at the mint.....fast forward to today...it goes very good for you!