Owner Comments:
Pictured above is a 1785 African Head Connecticut copper graded AU 50 by PCGS with a CAC sticker. This variety has long been popular with collectors of Confederation Period state issues, since it was first noted by Montroville W. Dickeson in the middle of the 19th century. He termed it a Negro Head copper. The piece, which is fairly common in lower grades, carries the Miller designation 4.1-F.4. The other, but far rarer African Head variety is the Miller 4.2-F.6, of which there are only 3 known examples.
The stereotypical obverse profile facing right, in high relief, features leaf-like hair strands brushed upward, behind six laurel leaves. Since the style of the obverse bust, and punches used for numerals and peripheral verbiage are so atypical of the work done by the prominent Connecticut mint engraver, Abel Buell, it has been suggested that this coin may have been fashioned by one of his apprentices, or in the alternative, may have been produced at another unidentified private illegal mint. If the coin is a contemporary counterfeit, curiously it weighs substantially more than a typical counterfeit would.
The date and other reverse elements are weak, as usually encountered.