 1788 New Jersey Copper. Maris 66-u (Rarity-7+). Braided Mane. Morristown Mint. 121.2 grains. Fine in terms of actual detail. Dies oriented medal turn, as was the recently sold Ford specimen. Surfaces are quite porous on the overall, with some larger verdigris-filled pits noted mostly on the obverse. Lighter peach-brown devices and legends stand out against darker brown fields on this extreme rarity. All salient details, such as the braiding of the mane, are visible and generally bold, but the date is very weak, lacking all but the final digit '8'.
What at first glance appears to be a seam around the edge of this coin briefly took the excitement out of this discovery, as we at first thought this well-worn coin might be an electrotype. Further examination, however, revealed that this ''seam'' is actually a planchet cutter lip or a planchet crack related to improper metal mixture. The planchet is also cracked from the edge through 'C' of CAESAREA through the horse's head and also at the lower reverse. These planchet problems are an attribute that the present piece shares in common with the Maris-Garrett specimen. This newly discovered specimen brings the census to five known for this variety, one of which is impounded in the NJ Historical Society. Here is a rare opportunity for the die variety collector to acquire a specimen of this elusive Maris number.
Ex Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center.
This new discovery was first offered in our February 2005 Coin Galleries Mail Bid Sale but was withdrawn before the closing date of that sale to be placed into a Live Auction venue.
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