1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 30-L, W-5090. Rarity-4. No Sprig Above Plow. EF-40 (PCGS). 147.9 grains. This impressive piece appears to be a candidate for a position in the top six for the die pairing, with sharpness and surface quality nearly equal to those of Fords second piece (a real EF, undergraded in Ford, and noted as "very pretty" in your catalogers (JKs) copy) and the Roper coin. Glossy medium brown and steel with some remaining peripheral luster and excellent eye appeal. Later die state with a substantial bulge at plow. Some light marks, like a thin scratch from snout to neck, two digs between plow and beam, and a thin scratch through the beam, none of which are serious. Some lighter color around the date suggests some buildup may have been lifted from the area ages ago. Sharp and really lovely in hand, Ted Craige called this coin "Choice XF / XF." We agree entirely. PCGS# 767899. From our sale of the Ted L. Craige Collection, January 2013 Americana Sale, lot 11334. Lot tags and collector envelopes with attribution and provenance notes included.
