1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 35-J, W-5125. Rarity-6-. Deer Head, 1787/1887--Overstruck on a Connecticut Copper--VF Details--Environmental Damage (PCGS). 130.3 grains. 27.2 mm. Reverse aligned 35° clockwise from proper coin turn (but in perfect alignment with the Connecticut copper host coin). Both obverse and reverse exhibit fine, even granularity over dark olive surfaces. An exceptionally sharp specimen, with a fully realized horsehead and more details in the sprigs at central obverse than your cataloger can recall seeing. Maris 35-J suffers from an eternal lack of central detail, and this one is as crisp as they come. The centering is close to ideal, with a bold arc of denticles around the lower obverse and a few visible at upper left reverse. A hint of undertype is seen at the central obverse, but the reverse retains a wealth of Connecticut copper detail. While the surfaces arent smooth, they are free from post-striking marks or distractions. Only a few little fissures and pits are seen here and there, the largest of which is under the final letter of CAESAREA. The overdate aspect is exceptionally clear here, showing the full 1787 / 1887 characteristic that helps make Obverse 35 so distinctive. The die state is early, with minimal central failure on the obverse, Die State 1.<p><p>This is one of those varieties that, while genuinely rare by population, seems rarer than it is because so many are so terrible looking. They also trade at auction infrequently. Before the 2019 E Pluribus Unum sale, when we offered the 1984 Picker specimen and a new example, we hadnt offered an example in six years. Prior to Heritage selling this one in 2011, they had never sold one - and wouldnt again until 2021. Theyve now sold three: this one, the Oechsner-Partrick coin (overstruck on a full reverse brockage, though not described as such), and the fairly low grade Dittmer coin. None of the other seven examples that follow this one in the SHI Census have a recent auction provenance, and two are unverified. Since most are pretty unevenly struck (and dare we say ugly?), the Siboni-Howes-Ish plate coin is the fairly attractive Maris-Garrett coin, which isnt even listed on their Condition Census.<p><p>This is the first auction appearance of a piece listed on the SHI Census in over a decade. PCGS# 763334. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from Heritages sale of June 2011, lot 3009.
