1787 New Jersey copper. Maris 34-J. Rarity-3. Deer Head. Overstruck on a Connecticut copper. EF-40 (PCGS).143.1 grains. Choice dark chocolate brown with beautiful glossy surfaces. Nicely struck on a broad planchet, with nearly full denticles framing the obverse and a generous portion of them around the top of the obverse. Evidence of undertype interferes with some shield details; the sprig hand of the Connecticut seated figure is seen at the misshapen right point of the top of the shield, but other details are obscure and indistinct. Aside from microscopic granularity, this piece has no notable flaws. The obverse die is broken, from the rim near 3:00 to the singletree, from the denticles below the date through the first 7 to the base of the plow, and from the rim to V of NOVA. Swelling has appeared behind the horsehead and between the plow and plow bar; this is Die State 3. Maris 34-J is an attractive die marriage, and the discovery of undertype details is a joy for any enthusiast, but finding one this pretty with a provenance back to the legendary Bushnell Collection would make any advanced collector’s day.From the E Pluribus Unum Collection of New Jersey Coppers. Earlier, from S.H. and H. Chapman’s sale of the Charles I. Bushnell Collection, June 1882, lot 945; sold to “Jonah;” Hillyer Ryder Collection; Hillyer Ryder Estate (1928) to Wayte Raymond, 1944; F.C.C. Boyd Collection; F.C.C. Boyd Estate to John J. Ford, Jr.; Bowers and Merena’s Frontenac sale, November 1991, lot 155.
