1786 New Jersey copper. Maris 17-b. Rarity-3. Large planchet. PLUKIBUS. Overstruck on a 1787 Nova Eborac copper, Seated Figure Left. VG-10 (PCGS).125.3 grains. Another important overstrike on a particularly unusual undertype, cited in Bill Anton’s article in the July 1975 issue of the <em>Colonial Newsletter</em> and listed in Mossman’s Table 29. Attractive medium brown, just a bit lighter in a glossy area of the central obverse. The surface texture is smooth in places but highly variable, with areas of natural granularity, disturbance from the undertype, along with portions that are hard and smooth. The undertype is very visible on both sides, with the word EBORAC mostly clear beneath the plow, the back of the head of the Nova Eborac portrait visible between the snout and SARE of CAESAREA, and the seated figure almost entirely visible beneath the shield on the reverse. The New Jersey copper shows few post striking issues, though a prong seems to obscure a rim bruise near 9:00 on the obverse. This is not an undertype we’ve encountered on another Maris 17-b, though there are a couple known beneath pieces from the Maris 34-J and Maris 56-n marriages.From the E Pluribus Unum Collection of New Jersey Coppers.
