1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 48-f, W-5270. Rarity-3. Outlined Shield, No Sprig Above Plow. Fine Details--Scratch (PCGS). 156.0 grains. 28.5 mm. Reverse aligned slightly counterclockwise from proper coin turn. Medium chocolate brown with smooth glossy surfaces, a lovely copper but for a series of old mostly parallel scratches on both sides. Some peripheral roughness is seen, as struck. Die State 1, but late, with a substantial bulge developing in the shield before the break. Only a very tiny crack is visible inside the second series of uprights (pales) from the right. Similar die state to Henry Garrett:1394, the earliest known state of the reverse known on this marriage, a coin that is written about extensively in the Siboni-Howes-Ish book. The unusual nature (and rarity) of the die state may have been why Syd chose to keep this coin in his primary set. While Maris 48-f is not a common variety, VF coins appear regularly. PCGS# 767832. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Dave Wilson, August 2003.
