1786 New Jersey copper. Maris 16-L. Rarity-2. Protruding Tongue. AU-58 (PCGS).151.5 grains. The second finest known example of this iconic <em>Red Book</em> variety. Lustrous golden tan with olive highlights and traces of mint color around some elements and within the reverse shield. Frosty and beautiful, with exceptional visual appeal and choice surfaces. The obverse is perfectly centered, fully framed in triangular denticles, while the reverse is nearly as well centered, lacking denticles just at the top. A tiny mint clip is above S of PLURIBUS. Strong cartwheel is seen on both sides, and the color suggests a piece that has barely toned down from mint red. In Spiro, this was called “Uncirc red gem.” In the Briesland sale of 1973, it was termed “a magnificent type coin” and graded Uncirculated. This piece is certainly less worn than others seen in Mint State holders, though the “planchet chips” or natural depressions seen in the right obverse field seem to have inspired a net grade of sorts. A few more of these inherent depressions are seen around the ears and less subtle ones are present around the shield. The surfaces show no post-striking flaws worth noting at all. The dies are in their early state for this marriage, Die State 2, with the “tongue” break present but no evidence of the cud that appears between the denticles above RE of CAESAREA. A light bulge is visible behind the horsehead.<p>This piece trails only the Bushnell-Ellsworth-Garrett gem, now in the Anton Collection. No other example from these dies is listed higher than EF in the SHI Condition Census, though the Siboni piece is graded EF+. Only three standard EFs follow, with an EF- ranked sixth. This is clearly a coin of importance: an eyeball variety everyone knows, in stellar condition, with a magnificent old provenance. Despite this die marriage being relatively commonplace, it is scarce any better than VF. This would be a highly memorable type coin for a collector who had no interest in owning 90 Maris numbers. But, we suspect those who collect their New Jerseys by the gross may like it even better.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 1455; Damon Douglas Collection; W.L. Briesland Collection; Stack’s sale of June 1973, lot 817.
