1786 New Jersey Copper. Maris 23-P, W-4940. Rarity-4. Narrow Shield, Curved Plow Beam. EF-45 (PCGS). 149.4 grains. 28.1 mm. A superb example of the die variety, undergraded in the 2003 Ford sale where it was called "Very Fine." Glossy and smooth deep chestnut brown with enough remaining frost to suggest the AU grade. The color and surface are both spectacular, and a bit of faded mint color even persists above NUM of UNUM. Perfectly centered on the obverse, with denticles around the entire circumference of that side. The reverse is also neatly centered, though denticles are only visible at the lower right. The arc of an errant planchet cutter strike is visible on the obverse from left of the date, across the plowhandles, to the denticles above RE of CAESAREA. Die State 2, with a cud near 12:00 on the obverse but no break below 3:00. A well struck and thoroughly attractive example, one that probably deserves a spot in the Condition Census. The SHI Census is led by two AUs (the Hessberg and Craige coins), followed by six EFs. Two of those - number 3 and number 6 - appear to be the same coin, as the Partrick EF is the Spiro-Oechsner coin. That coin was graded EF-40 (NGC) when sold in 2021 and this one appears finer, which would make it perhaps third finest known and no worse than fifth. PCGS# 767884. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier, from a "Chapman sale" according to an accompanying tag; Edouard Frossard on August 10, 1893; Hillyer Ryder Collection to F.C.C. Boyd; Boyd Estate to John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part I, October 2003, lot 114; Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006.
