1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 53-j, W-5290. Rarity-4. Outlined Shield, Largest Head. AU-50 (PCGS). 155.8 grains. 28.0 mm. A particularly handsome example of this particularly handsome variety. Glossy light brown with hard surfaces and blended maroon toning around design elements and across the reverse. A very pleasing coin with bold detail on both sides. Both sides are aligned right to a nearly identical margin, with matching frames of denticles at left. Aside from a short old scratch in the field under the horses lower jaw, this piece is essentially choice. A hint of verdigris and trivial granularity are seen in some protected areas of the periphery. Usual die state.<p><p>Nicely engraved, well made, and with a distinctively large and high relief horsehead, the Maris 53-j is a favorite, but its deeply engraved obverse die lent itself to more heavy wear than many similarly rare varieties. Fortunately, a handful of extremely high grade examples exist, led by an example in the Anton Collection and the magnificent Bushnell-Parmelee specimen that was called "a wonder gem coin" in our 2003 Ford sale. The latter coin sold at the time to Don Partrick and was recently sold in the January 2021 Partrick highlight auction as MS-65 RB (NGC) for $108,000. The Spiro coin, ranked third on the SHI Census, resold in our E Pluribus Unum Collection sale of November 2019 as a PCGS AU-55+, and the fourth ranked coin was Partricks duplicate, earlier from the 1920 Henry Miller sale, last sold in March 2021 as an NGC EF-45. The Maris plate coin, last sold in our 2001 ODonnell sale is ranked fifth, and this example is slotted as sixth, with a few other EF coins rounding out the census. We prefer this one overall to the fourth ranked Partrick coin, but your mileage may vary. Theres no such thing as a correct Condition Census, as ultimately grade (or ordinal rank) is a matter of taste. PCGS# 766273. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Angel Pietri Collection; our June 2011 Baltimore Auction, lot 208.