1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 72-z, W-5420. Rarity-5. Sprig Above Plow, Plaited Mane--Overstruck on a 1788 Vermont Copper, RR-19--VF-20 Granular.108.0 grains. An outstanding overstrike, the Vermont host coin overtaking the designs of the New Jersey copper parasite in places, rendering the legends as VENOVON AUCTORI and *E*PLURIBUS*UETLIB. The nearly complete 1788 date of the Vermont RR-19 host is visible in lower left reverse, an incredible situation given the 1787 date of the overstrike! Maris 72-z almost always comes overstruck on some identifiable host, though none are recorded over Vermont coppers in Phil Mossmans listing in Table 2 of his <em>Money of the American Colonies and Confederation</em>. Given the abundant vestiges of the Vermont copper, it is rather readily identifiable as RR-19. The New Jersey copper is closely double struck, as usual for the die marriage, and its surfaces are a uniformly granular, light golden-brown and rather attractive overall. A jagged planchet fissure at lower right reverse further identifies this piece. Here is a very nice Maris 72-z on a very rare host coin.
