Hi folks. I had been searching for a NOVA CONSTELLATIO (or CONSTELLATIO NOVA) colonial coin for a while, and finally found one. It was misattributed as a 1787 Nova "Constellio" coin, and came from Europe, which maybe was the reason I got a decent price on it. (By the way...color is way off in the photos. These are the seller's photos, and I just edited them to put them together and do a touch up or two.) Anyways, thanks to this useful link provided to me (http://www.novanumismatics.com/numismatic-essays/attributing-the-nova-constellatio-coppers/), I think I have nailed the attribution. 1783 Pointed Rays OBV: CONSTELLATIO NOVA, 2 L's in CONSTELLATIO, Ray points to the left of the first O (not clearly in between the letters). REV: Wreath, LIBERTAS ET JUSTITIA. This leads me to believe that the coin is Crosby 1-A, listed as R4. Thanks for looking! Simon
A nice coin for sure - congrats on your pick! I'd love to add one of these or a Fugio to my collection in the next few years.
I really want a fugio, but they are so dang expensive (for me). I see examples in G going for $300+ on ebay all the time. I got lucky with this colonial and got it for $70 (seeing as how other examples are going in the $200 range).
I was going to ask the rude question but you went ahead and answered it for me. I'd say $70 is very well bought. I have the same problem with Fugios. You see one for $300 and the planchet looks like a pressed cow patty. To get even a decent one with a decent planchet you're easily into the $500+ range. That's a little rich for my blood while my sets sit open. Maybe when I have my current sets done, I can get some of the "neat just to have it" stuff.
Really hard to tell without seeing if it's a small or large US on reverse. Either way, that was a fantastic buy!
Not sure, but I think the Crosby-1A is a Large US (cheetahcats may correct me if I am wrong). Makes it extra cool, as 1A has a rarity of R4!
Definitely 1-A. the clash mark visible through the rays under the "ATIO" and through the stars at "STEL" match exactly with my photos of a known 1-A.
Thanks for the info. But what part of the reverse is the clash a remnant of? It doesn't seem to match up with a typical die clash...
Just an update. This coin was sent to PCGS, and I just got word that it graded cleanly which I am very happy about... G06! I thought it might have made the F range, but I suppose the reverse really brought the grade down. Still, super pumped that it did not go details.
Nice colonial Simon. Glad to hear they graded it and didn't "details" it. A fine would have been nice, but many of these are a tough call even for the pros to grade. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to add one like it to my collection. Congrats! Bruce