1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 34-V, W-5120. Rarity-6-. Deer Head. Fine Details--Graffiti (PCGS). 119.1 grains. 28.0 mm. Called "solidly collectible" in the 2003 Ford sale, this piece is listed as VF in the SHI Census, carried as fifth finest known. The surfaces are mostly smooth and pleasing medium brown, an attractive shade. An area around and above NOVA is a bit darker, with subtle underlying surface roughness. Scattered natural pitting is visible at the mane, the plowbar, the top of the shield, and lower left of the shield. The obverse is well centered and well struck, with a complete date and an arc frame of denticles around the lower half of that side. The reverse shows denticles around the top and upper left. The central strike is not very bold, but the legends and wreath decoration are complete. The initials BC have been lightly and crudely cut at the central reverse. No evidence of undertype is seen.<p><p>Even with its flaws, this is a sharp and important example of this rare variety, one with an impressive provenance extending back well over a century and including some of the most important past and modern day New Jersey specialists. PCGS# 763330. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Dr. Thomas Hall Collection; Dr. Thomas Hall Estate, May 1909; Virgil M. Brand Collection, en bloc, by sale, September 1909; Horace and Armin Brand, by descent, June 1926; Armin W. Brand, by court order, 1937; B.G. Johnson 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 134; Dave Wnuck, August 2004; Ray Williams, April 2007.
