1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 37-Y, W-5150. Rarity-5. No Sprig Above Plow, Goiter. VF Details--Cleaned (PCGS). 153.78 grains. Steely, curiously glossy surfaces explain the PCGS qualifier, although both sides are smooth in hand with no significant marks. Retoning nicely, as well, glints of steel-olive around the peripheries enhance lighter golden and rose-brown shades elsewhere. The obverse is marginally off center to the viewers right, affecting only the denticulation, while the reverse is similarly off center (to an even more trivial degree) to the lower right. Obverse DS2, diagnostic of the die pairing, with the goiter break and an additional break below the plow handle at its junction with the coulter. The reverse is swollen at the lower left, upper left and elsewhere within and around the shield -- typical of the variety. In terms of overall appearance, in fact, this is a rather nice Maris 37-Y, a challenging die pairing with an Siboni-Howes-Ish Condition Census made up on Fine to VF coins. From the Norman G. Peters Collection.
