1788 New Jersey Copper. Maris 74-bb, W-5515. Rarity-5+. Horse’s Head Right, Running Fox Before Legend, Ghost Coulter. VG-8.，109.0 grains. The surfaces are extensively porous, weakening much of the lettering and even parts of the central devices, though tantalizing outlines of the horses mane and the delineated shield lines on the reverse belie the fact that this coin is sharper than the given grade. The Running Fox is essentially invisible, relegated to a ghosted outline in the coins textured surface. Though rated only R-5+, the Maris 74-bb is the rarest of the Running Fox varieties save 76-cc; it is missing from many prominent collections, notably our recent sales of the SLT and Ted Craige Collections, as well as the Norweb Collection we offered three decades ago. The Condition Census is made up of coins in the VF range, meaning that even this porous VG will be a prize for the collector needing the 74-bb die marriage, which seems rarer than its given rarity rating connotes.<em>From the Syd Martin Collection. </em>
