1786 New Jersey Copper. Maris 20-N, W-4905. Rarity-4. Wide Shield, Drunken Die Cutter. EF-40 (PCGS). 159.4 grains. 27.0 mm. One of Syds final acquisitions for his New Jersey collection, purchased from our November 2019 E Pluribus Unum sale, where it was described as follows:<p><p>"An exceptional example of one of the most distinctive of all Maris varieties, marrying an obverse accomplished with all the skill of a toddlers accordion solo to a reverse displaying the widest shield found in the New Jersey series. Smooth and glossy medium brown, even and appealing. A few light striations cross the central obverse horizontally, most notable at N of NOVA. A related striation passes P of PLURIBUS on its way to the left side of the shield. Both sides are well centered, though the obverse is trivially aligned to 8:00 and missing some denticles there. The horsehead is in excellent relief, and the shield details are essentially complete. This is the late state of the dies, SHI Die State 3, with a substantial crack at the right side of the exergue and a dramatic bulge above the right side of the plow bar. This is a really nice coin, wholesome and attractive, and likely close to Condition Census quality. The SHI census lists the Mills-Ford-Demling coin as the best of these. The bottom half of the top eight are all EF coins, including Norwebs, Oechsners, ODonnells, and the Ellsworth-Garrett coin. This one is probably close and is likely prettier than some ranked higher."<p> PCGS# 766264. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from our sale of the E Pluribus Unum Collection, November 2019, lot 6051.
