1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 43-d, W-5225. Rarity-1. Outlined Shield, Bulbous Nose. AU-53 (PCGS). 152.2 grains. 27.2 mm. Reverse aligned slightly counterclockwise of proper coin turn. The 1955 Spiro sale coin, where it was described simply as "Ex. F. Light mint clip. Better than Maris plate coin." Not much more needs to be said! The surfaces are glossy golden brown, hard and appealing, with a bit of maroon mottled in, including a round splash of toning at the denticles under the plowhandles. The centering is close to ideal on both sides, though the denticles at the base of the obverse are short and soft. Some trivial granularity is seen at the central obverse, and a small mint clip is best seen from the reverse just right of 6:00. This is Die State 2, with an arc extending to the lower right from the center of the shield and a small chip from the die inside the shield line just above center. The sharpness on both sides is superb, and the eye appeal is also exceptional.<p><p>Maris 43-d is a common variety, even in fairly nice grade. The SHI Census is a good start to a listing of the best ones, but there are probably well over a dozen additional examples in grades AU and above that deserve listing. A few of those include the Newman coin (NGC MS-64 BN, later crossed to PCGS MS-64 BN), the Partrick coin (sold in May 2021 as NGC ME-64 BN for $90,000), the Ludwig Smith coin (McCawley and Grellman, January 1995, to Angel Pietri), and several certified Mint State and high AU examples that have appeared and disappeared as type coins rather than examples of this Maris number for specialized collections. The best Maris 43-d in the E Pluribus Unum Collection was graded EF-45+ (PCGS). The most interesting reappears in the next lot. PCGS# 763359. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from Hans M.F. Schulmans sale of the Jacob N. Spiro Collection, March 1955, lot 1531; our (Stacks) sale of the Herbert M. Oeschner Collection, September 1988, lot 1283; our (Stacks) Americana Sale, January 1999, lot 94; our (Stacks) sale of September 2005, lot 289; Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006.
