Given the success of the Fugio thread, I thought I might start one for Vermont Landscape coppers. I realize that it's a collecting niche, but I think that these are just really neat coins, with designs that are crude, whimsical, and somewhat mystical. Let me share the only one I own, just bought from Tim Puro of VT Coins from his eBay store. Tim says that this coin "walked in" to his shop in an old collection, and he has no other info on it. I like to think that it has never left the state of Vermont until now. I realize the condition of the surfaces is not good, but the coin has an astonishing (to me ) amount of detail, which for me (and my budget!) trumps surface quality for this particular issue.
That is a great piece. I have always loved that design and you are absolutely right that it is very nice to see all the details. Congrats!
Thanks for the comments. It appears to be a Bressett 1-A, the first one listed in Bowers' book. It's the first of the 1785 landscape coppers issued, from the mint building in its first location,on Millbrook in the town of Rupert. Most of them have grainy, porous planchets and fissures. On this coin, the large defect that you can see broadens out under the surface of the coin, and I believe represents an impurity that corroded and disappeared while the coin was buried. When held to the light, you can see a pinpoint of light through the coin. I wonder if this impurity acted as a "sacrifice," helping protect the rest of the coin from corrosion? On the reverse, I can see scattered green flecks, and there is definitely some verdi inside the planchet flaw. Often, these are lightly struck at "VERMONTS" and the mountains; on this example the only seriously understruck spot appears to be DEUX on the reverse.
Edit to correct error in post #5: I should have written "DECIMA" instead of "DEUX," The reverse legend being "Stella Quarto Decima," a reference to Vermont as the 14th state (or star).
VT coins is one of the only places I've ever purchased coins from via the internet. Not sure if he still has his web site but if so you would find you could get better deals buying direct from him rather than via the ebay store stuff.
Nice Coin! That is a nice Landscape Colonial Kaz, Congratulations. It is a beautiful colonial coin, with the sun peeking over the Vermont hills. As you say, your example is the Bressett 1-A variety, characterized by "Ray of sun pointing to period after RES.". There are only 2 VERMONTS varieties, yours and Bressett 2-B. I am attaching Q.David Bowers descriptions for these two varieties (in case you don't have the book). As you mention, planchet fissures are the rule rather than the exception here. The VERMONTS and VERMONTIS varieties both appear to be scarcer than the more common VERMONTENSIUM variety. Here is my example of Bresett 6-E (Vermontensium). Again, congratulations!
Hi Eduard, thanks for posting your Vt. copper, not only does it have fantastic detail, but beautiful surfaces as well! Wasn't that a fairly recent purchase (last year or 2)? Was it from stacks? The design on these is one of the most remarkable in American numismatics, I believe. I think the public may have found the obverse a little bit strange, but the 'Nova Constellatio' reverse would have been familiar to most.
Hello Kaz, I thought I would bump this thread hoping somebody else may post a Vermont colonial. Love them. (I know H.T (Toad) would post a V.T, but he has not been around here lately). Yes, you remember well, this is a coin I purchased at Stack's in 2008. I think it is quite nice, with the only imperfection being a small surface depression on the obverse. I've got 2 others, but they are not that pretty........
I too only have one Vermont landscape, same variety as yours ksparrow. Mine unfortunately doesn't have nearly the detail of yours however. I just love this design, wish I could afford more of them!
