1786 New Jersey Copper. Maris-21-N, W-4910. Rarity-3. Wide Shield. EF-40 (PCGS).A pleasing example with overall hard and smooth surfaces despite scattered planchet flaws in the lower reverse. The patina exhibits chocolate-brown color with accents of steel blue across the high points. Nicely centered and uniformly bold, free from any significant abrasions of note. New Jersey coppers at or above the EF grade level will often show crisscrossing die lines that otherwise fade with even slight circulation. We clearly note these lines on this piece between the plow handles, above the plow blade, and to the left and right of the shield on the reverse. A remarkably sharp example that approaches the lower end of the Condition Census, which is anchored by a quintet of pieces called EF in the Siboni/Howes/Ish reference. It is as sharp as the Craige specimen graded EF-45 in our January 2013 sale, and is nearly as sharp as the Roper-Shaw example that earned $3,005 in our March 2017 auction. Just 11 coins have been certified finer within the Wide Shield designation by PCGS.
