Description
1787
New Jersey Copper. Maris 41-c. High Rarity-5. Very Good/Good, the reverse weaker than the
obverse as always the case for this very rare variety. The obverse legend full, the last two letters
weaker than the rest but visible; the horse and plow fully outlined, though
with not much of the finer detail, as expected for the grade; the dramatic
diagonal die failure across the horse’s torso is prominent, certainly the cause
for the rarity of the variety today, as the obverse die must have broken early
in striking (it was not paired with any other reverse). The reverse here is, as usual, extremely
faint, with just vague outlines of a couple of letters in the legend, though
the shield is mostly outlined, with some of the vertical stripes visible, as is
the prominent “spur” at the lower left of the shield which immediately
identifies the “c” reverse (not that it is needed since the obverse only comes
paired with this!). Medium brown, with
lighter tan devices gives a two-tone look to the coin. The surfaces are surprisingly hard for a
well-circulated specimen, and that adds to the eye appeal since this issue is
often found rough. The obverse has a few
faint circulation marks, and there is one thin but long reverse scratch across
the top of the shield – old and toned to the surface color so not as disturbing
as it would otherwise be. The Siboni
Condition Census starts with a pair of AU’s and an EF, with the rest of the
census in VF. While there are a few nice
ones out there, most collections have to settle for something in distinctly
lower grade, such as the Fine Maris-Garrett piece (graded there as “G to VG”),
the VG Henry Garrett-Scott Barnes piece or the weak VG in the John Griffee
sale; and in John Griffee’s published census notes, over two-thirds of the
specimens listed graded below Fine. The
Spiro-Bareford coin last brought ,637.50 in Stack’s March 2010 sale (where
the grade was raised to VF, which was accurate) – and less you think that is a
fluke of a price, the VF Ford coin brought ,037.50 way back in 2003 and the
Lorenzo piece graded Choice Fine brought ,025 in January 2008. More recently, the Foreman-Partrick Choice VF
brought ,000 in March 2021 and the rough VF in the “E Pluribus Unum” collection
brought ,760 in November 2019. Though
the Maris 41-c and 42-c are generally given the same rarity rating, it has been
our experience that the Maris 41-c comes along far less often, in all grades. While this one will certainly not win a place
in the Condition Census, or centerfold status in the next New Jersey copper
book, it is a most affordable example of a rare variety, and finding one even
marginally better will at least double the price.
This general type is pictured and listed in the 2020 book on colonials edited
by Q. David Bowers, the Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American
Coins, lists this type as his W-5205 (page 188), where the variety is priced at
0 in VG and 0 in just Good, showing the rarity of the variety in all
grades. Winning bidder to add for postage and insurance – ALL
items we sell are sent via insured mail [or Registered mail for items over
0]. California residents must add appropriate sales
tax. The pictures are of the actual coin being offered, and have
been enlarged in size to show the detail – and we have included pictures in
both color and black and white, of both sides of the coin, as well as a
combined photo showing both sides. This item has NOT been graded or
slabbed by one of the services, and we urge you to examine the photos for
yourself and from your own opinion as to grade; we have over 25 years’
experience as professional dealers in US colonial coinage – and another 15
years prior to that as collectors of the series as well. As
always, we offer a full, no-questions-asked return policy of 14 days after
receipt of the coin if it fails to meet your needs in ANY way – AND
WE OFFER ONE OF THE STRONGEST RETURN GUARANTEES ON E-BAY, though it has seldom
been used; please check out our Feedback Profile or e-mail any comments or
questions that you may have. Thank you again for your interest, and
if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
