1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 32-T, W-5100. Rarity-2. Outlined Shield. AU-50 (PCGS). 135.8 grains. 28.2 mm. A sharp and well pedigreed example of the variety, spun off as a Ford duplicate in the 1991 Frontenac sale but seemingly more desirable than the example retained in the main collection. Glossy medium brown with profound details on both sides, including complete central definition of the often-soft reverse shield. The horsehead stands out in high relief. The reverse is slightly double struck, but well centered and attractive. A bit of old verdigris remains in protected areas and around devices. The obverse is likewise appealing and well centered, but shows some fissured surface texture, most pronounced in the upper right quadrant. The die state is crisp and early, Die State 1. There are some very nice examples from these dies, including two Uncs. The Partrick coin, carried as third finest on the SHI Census as AU, sold as NGC MS-63 BN in March 2021. The rest of the census is composed of AU and EF+ coins. PCGS# 688362. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from Henry Chapmans sale of the John Story Jenks Collection, December 1921, lot 5514; Hillyer Ryder Collection to F.C.C. Boyd; Boyd Estate to John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Bowers and Merenas) Frontenac sale, November 1991, lot 152; our (Stacks) sale of March 1994, lot 334; Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006.
