1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 38-Z, W-5175. Rarity-4. Outlined Shield, Small Head. AU Details--Environmental Damage (PCGS). 159.9 grains. 27.3 mm. Reverse aligned slightly left of proper coin turn. Once described by Mike Hodder as having "very little actual wear visible," by virtue of sharpness alone this coin would be one of the best Maris 38-Z coppers around. The surfaces are mostly glossy and frosty medium brown and steel, with a good deal of luster remaining on the reverse. An area of surface roughness is present around most of the forward plow, with a related area under 17 of the date. Some shallow roughness is also seen at the central shield, and UR and BU of PLURIBUS. A tiny mint clip is centered under the date. Both sides show exceptional central sharpness, though the reverse shows some softness at E of the reverse legend, where some planchet texture remains from the soft strike. The obverse is ideally centered, the reverse aligned slightly to the lower right. Two small rim nicks are seen from the obverse, one over O of NOVA, the other over the second A of CAESAREA. The rim has been lightly filed adjacent to the upper right obverse. The die state is early and crisp, Die State 1.<p><p>The Maris-Garrett coin and the Parmelee-Ford coin are the class of this variety in Gem Unc and AU, respectively. The next best may be the E Pluribus Unum coin, graded EF-45 (PCGS), which brought $12,000 in November 2019. That coin wasnt on the SHI Census, but the rest of that listing is populated by three EFs (including the Norweb-Partrick coin, sold in March 2021 as NGC EF-45) and the ODonnell VF+. The Dr. Gordon Shaw coin, graded PCGS VF-30 in our March 2017 sale, is another notable recent offering. PCGS# 767827. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Mike Ringo to Harry Rescigno Collection, August 1987; our (Bowers and Merenas) Saccone Collection sale, November 1989, lot 1601; John Griffee Collection, via Don Mituzas; McCawley and Grellmans 1995 C4 Convention Sale of the John Griffee Collection, October 1995, lot 62; Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006.
