1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 41-c, W-5205. Rarity-5+. Outlined Shield, Googly Eye. Fine-15 (PCGS). 154.3 grains. 26.7 mm. A pretty nice example of a rare variety. Lovely contrast between dark chocolate brown fields and light brown devices sets off the detail on both sides. The obverse is aligned to 6:00 enough to see substantial area outside the die edge at top and lose the date at the bottom. The reverse is aligned to 11:00 to nearly the same margin, affecting the tops of most of PLURIBUS. The surfaces are evenly granular but maintain good gloss and overall visual appeal. The arc die crack that condemned this die to rarity is present, as always in Die State 2, extending from the plowhandles through the base of the horsehead into the field below EA of CAESAREA. This is not a common variety in grades finer than this. Aside from two unverified AUs atop the SHI Census, followed by a single EF, the remaining six are all VF coins. The E Pluribus Unum piece was graded VF-20 (PCGS). The eighth ranked Spiro-Bareford coin recently resold in the March 2021 Partrick offering for $12,000. PCGS# 767856. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from our (Stacks) sale of March 1994, lot 342; John Lorenzo Collection; our (Stacks) Americana sale of January 2008, lot 5696.
