1786 New Jersey Copper. Maris 15-J, W-4815. Rarity-4. Straight Plow Beam, Leaning Head. AU-55 (PCGS). 150.7 grains. 28.1 mm. Reverse aligned slightly clockwise from proper coin turn. An exceptional specimen of this die marriage, ranked as fourth finest in the SHI Census but seemingly deserving of a still higher rank. Highly glossy deep olive with faded maroon around design elements. Crisply struck and remarkably well detailed, with the cross-hatched die finish lines still boldly visible behind the horsehead. A couple of trivial fissures are seen under the plowhandles and around the reverse periphery. Nicely centered, with obverse denticles present from 2:00 to 10:00. Probably lightly cleaned ages ago, but recolored and recovered at this point. A very attractive and very high grade example. Die State 1, with a jogging die crack descending from EA of CAESAREA to beyond the plow.<p><p>This piece appears less worn than the Partrick coin, ranked second in the SHI Census and sold in March 2021 as NGC AU-53. The third ranked coin, the lovely Frontenac coin, was Fords duplicate that was sold before this one. The only clearly superior piece is the Maris-Garrett-ODonnell Unc. and the decision between this and the Frontenac coin may be a toss-up. E Pluribus Unum included Spiros notable double strike, graded EF-45 (PCGS), and another handsome PCGS EF-45 as well. This is certainly finer than both.<p> PCGS# 766261. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from William Hessleins sale of the Edward Miller Collection, April 1916, lot 665; Hillyer Ryder Collection; F.C.C. Boyd Collection; Boyd Estate to John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part I, October 2003, lot 89; Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006.
