1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 44-d, W-5235. Rarity-4. Outlined Shield, Sleigh Runner--Triple Struck with Partial Brockage--VG-10 (PCGS). 149.0 grains. 27.4 mm. From our March 2017 sale of the Dr. Gordon Shaw sale, where this piece was described as follows: <p><p>"A fascinating New Jersey copper that spent three interludes between the 44-d die pairing. We are unsure as to the order of the strikes, but we believe that the first strike was the 95% off-center tab striking featuring nothing more than the first 3 date digits; the reverse appears to be blank, but we make out the incused, reverse outline of the top of a 7, meaning that this is a partial brockage on the reverse. The second strike was apparently the normal-looking strike that is perfectly centered. Then we believe the third strike was rotated about 45 degrees and about 20% off-center, with a partial brockage reverse; the date of this strike is seen in the plow handles of the centered strike, while its plow handles are seen below the centered strikes horsehead, and NO of the third strike is seen to the right of NOVA of the centered strike. The partial brockage is seen in the guise of the partial, incused and reversed letters EA (above leading U of UNUM) and NOV (at lower shield point) on the reverse of the centered strike. The coin itself is dark brown and fairly choice, with just a bit of verdigris well hidden around the second U of PLURIBUS. Here is a coin that has been off the market for nearly 35 years and that will delight the current generation of New Jersey copper collectors."<p><p>Your cataloger sees the order of strikes a bit differently (I would venture the most subtle and hidden strike first, the far off-center tab second, and the dominant strike third), but there is no hard and fast rule in identifying such things. Syd reveled in studying coins like this and would be fully engaged in a lengthy animated conversation about why which strike came before which subsequent one. And, unlike so many of us, a reasoned argument could often change his mind! PCGS# 766277. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Richard August; our sale of the Dr. Gordon Shaw Collection, March 2017 Baltimore Auction, lot 304, via Christopher B. Young.
