1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 56-n, W-5310. Rarity-1. Camel Head—Overstruck on 1787 Machin’s Mills Halfpenny, Vlack 25-87C (Unique). VF-30.，103.1 grains. A remarkably pleasing, rich olive brown example of one of the most common die marriages in the New Jersey Coppers series, though here overstruck on one of the rarest Machins Mills Halfpennies, the 1787 Vlack 25-87C, a die combination discovered only in 2011 that remains unique in non-overstruck form. The consignor of this coin, Dan Knight, has written up the whole story of his serendipitous discovery of this unique overstrike in the Summer 2017 issue of <em>The C4 Newsletter,</em> and this coin graces its cover. In a nutshell, Dan was offered a couple of New Jersey Coppers at a show, and though this piece was pricier than his usual purchases because of the undertype, he nor the seller knew the true identity and rarity of the host coin. After purchasing this choice copper, he had casually met C4 member Clem Schettino on eBay, and after sending him photos of this overstrike, Clem was quickly able to determine that the host was another example of the otherwise unique and newly discovered Vlack 25-87C. It is helpful that abundant remnants of the host coin remain, most notably the distinct die crack that extends from rim to I to G of GEORGIVS then through left field to bow to ribbon ends to shoulder and cuirass of George IIIs bust. This die crack is what makes this an easy to attribute die combination, even with the naked eye. Obverse is struck over obverse, reverse over reverse, at a roughly 180 degree rotation between New Jersey and Machins Mills host, and all of the details of the undertype come into clear view when the coin is properly oriented, as we have done here for ease of viewing. Though New Jersey Coppers overstruck on Machins Mills halfpence are very scarce, they are not unobtainable, and we in fact sold one as recently as our March 2017 Sale of the Shaw Collection, a Maris 56-n over a Vlack 17-87A. Most known Machins Mills hosts are common or at best very scarce die marriages, and this is the only piece we know of struck on Machins Mills Halfpenny host that is an otherwise unique die combination. Over a dozen different die combinations of New Jersey Coppers are known overstruck atop what must be over 100 different types and varieties of hosts, as tabulated in Table 29 in Philip Mossmans Money of the American Colonies and Confederation. Of all those hosts, this piece has our vote for one of the best and most exotic, close behind our very favorite, the Maris 56-n overstruck on a Clinton Copper that once graced the John Ford Collection and that now resides in a refined cabinet of New Jersey Coppers. Here is a coin that will see active competition on auction night and that will find a welcome home in an advanced set of New Jersey Coppers overstrikes, or perhaps a collector of Machins Mills Halfpence will pursue this as a placeholder for the otherwise unique Vlack 25-87C.From the Dan Knight Collection.
