1786 New Jersey copper. Maris 15-L. Rarity-4. Straight Plow Beam. VF-35 (PCGS).150.2 grains. Acquired by Herbert Oechsner at the Spiro sale, where this piece was described as “V. fine but cleaned years ago. While rated common, we believe RARE.” This is indeed a scarce variety in nice grade, with the eight coins listed in the SHI census including three AUs and five EFs. This example is lovelier than its description, with pleasing glossy olive brown surfaces and excellent eye appeal. A touch of reddish color within the shield is more modern than the coin, but the traces around the plow handles and some letters around the obverse letters have almost entirely retoned naturally and attractively. The centering is good and there are no noteworthy marks. The die crack seen on so many Maris 15-Js, from EA to the end of the plow bar, is joined by another that parallels it on an arc from the plow bar to the plow itself. The first crack passes the plow bar and extends all the way to the date here. The reverse is perfect.<p>Oechsner was a banker and realtor in Montclair, New Jersey, an Essex County town that was the same distance — 20 miles — from the New Jersey mints at Morristown and Rahway. He died November 28, 1987 after collecting for decades and serving as the president of the New Jersey Numismatic Society. While the Spiro sale evokes legendary proportions for many modern collectors, Oechsner attended the March 1955 sale on the fourth floor of the Waldorf-Astoria live.From the E Pluribus Unum Collection of New Jersey Coppers. Earlier, from Hans M.F. Schulman’s sale of the Dr. Jacob N. Spiro Collection, March 1955, lot 1451; Stack’s sale of the Herbert M. Oechsner Collection, September 1988, lot 1248.
