1786 New Jersey copper. Maris 10-G. Rarity-6+. No Coulter. VF-30 (PCGS).140.1 grains. Pleasing as a type coin, important as a superb example of this No Coulter rarity. Attractive light brown to deep tan with hard surfaces. Both sides are peppered with tiny ticks, though this situation is more notable on the obverse, where tiny contact marks cover most of the surface. The rim has been a bit battered, but only the rim bruise above VA of NOVA is easily identified without scrutiny. The obverse die edge shows at left, but the misalignment is not severe enough to cost the right side of the obverse its denticles. The reverse die edge is visible from 12:00 to 3:00. Quite crisp on both sides, with a fair amount of the internal shield detail still visible despite that die’s progressive failure. This is Die State 2, with the notable chip in the 7 of the date giving that digit’s flag a steroidal appearance.<p>The SHI census is topped by the Spiro-Boyd-Ford coin, now in the Partrick Collection; it was described as About Uncirculated in the Ford sale but was extremely choice for that grade. Anton’s EF (unverified) is followed by the impounded NJHS specimen, the Maris-Garrett-Garrett coin (a Partrick duplicate), the O’Donnell-Siboni coin, Dick August’s piece, and the ANS VF fills the seventh position. This piece is as sharp or a bit sharper than the O’Donnell-Siboni coin but perhaps not as choice. A reasonable reassessment of the Condition Census could place this coin, with its flaws noted, within the top seven. It is certainly among the top 10. Michael Hodder knew of 14 of these in 2001. Like the Boyd-Ford coin, this piece is struck in medal turn.From the E Pluribus Unum Collection of New Jersey Coppers.
