1787 NJ 1/2P Pony Head, Maris 38-Z, BN MS(PCGS#767827)

November 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Commissaire-priseur

Stack's Bowers

Numéro du lot

1326

Grade

VF30BN

Prix

4 320

Description du lot

146.7 grains. An important example of this rare variety, the only use of Maris Reverse Z. Struck on a brassy, somewhat oblong planchet, this piece displays golden brown surfaces with darker contrasting toning around peripheries and design elements. Well centered on both sides, though the only visible denticles appear atop the reverse. The surfaces are glossy if not quite smooth, with some subtle granularity in areas. All design elements are bold and no significant defects are worth mentioning. The visual appeal is excellent, though a bit unusual, as there are not many New Jerseys around with this kind of brassy appearance. The reverse shows its usual rotation a bit counterclockwise from proper coin turn. The dies are perfect, SHI Die State 1.<p>This is listed as the sixth finest known specimen in the 2024 SHI Census. All five coins ranked higher have been sold by our firm at some point since 1980. The Maris-Garrett-Anton Unc, plated in Maris, is the standout finest, followed by the AU+ Ford coin. Bareford's EF+ is third. The fourth ranked E Pluribus Unum coin is choice despite a significant mint clip; graded EF-45 by PCGS, it brought $12,000 in November 2019. The Norweb-Partrick coin is next in fifth position; it brought $5,520 in 2021 as an NGC XF-45. The Dr. Shaw coin, which Dick August sold as a duplicate in 1990, is not listed on the SHI Census. It brought $7,637 as a PCGS VF-30 in our sale of March 2017. We can see why Dick preferred this one. With its distinctive look and one-variety-only appeal, Maris Reverse Z always strikes collectors' fancy, but it rarely appears so crisp and attractive as it is displayed on the present specimen.