1788 New Jersey Copper. Maris 65-u, W-5495. Rarity-3. Head Right. EF-40 (PCGS).
124.0 grains. 28.8 mm. From our January 2013 offering of the Ted Craige Collection, where it was described as follows: "Deep chestnut brown with scattered obverse granularity, though smooth and glossy on the choice reverse. An extremely sharp specimen of this distinctive and crudely-struck variety, noted by Mr. Craige as 'C.C. and Finest Recorded!' Its sharpness does indeed rank with many of those on the Condition Census, which all rank in the EF to VF+ range, aside from a single unverified AU. The obverse shows a pit at the horse's bust and some trivial shallow surface granularity, no known major post-striking flaws, just a single little scratch on the horse's neck. The sharpness is superb on both sides. The obverse is aligned to 7 o'clock, with full denticles and die edge visible from 12 o'clock to 3 o'clock. The beautiful reverse is aligned to 10 o'clock, with profound die edge seen between 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock. The reverse is so sharp that raised die preparation lines persist in left reverse field. Advanced die state with a fascinating network of obverse die cracks: above OVA, two parallel cracks at plow handles, at tops of REA, another arc below REA through singletree to date. An exciting specimen and a new candidate for the Condition Census." The advanced die state seen on this coin is now cataloged as Die State 4. And even in the decade since Syd acquired this piece, very few examples of this scarce die marriage have been available that have rivaled this coin's sharpness, strike, and eye appeal. We can't remember the last time a late die state example this nice hit the market, and we still feel like this is a Condition Census candidate based on its many positive merits.
PCGS# 767860.
From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from our sale of the Ted L. Craige Collection, January 2013 Americana Sale, lot 11400.