1787 NJ 1/2P Camel Head, BN MS(PCGS#515)

The March 2012 Baltimore Auction

Commissaire-priseur

Stack's Bowers

Numéro du lot

1059

Grade

AU53

Prix

2 185

Description du lot

1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 56-n, W-5310. Rarity-1. Camel Head. AU-53 (PCGS). 116.6 grains. Overstruck on a 1773 contemporary counterfeit halfpenny of George III. A remarkable and little-worn example of this popular and distinctive variety, one that is nearly always struck on another coin. Counterfeit halfpence, as here, are perhaps the second most numerous sort of undertype, surpassed only by Connecticut coppers. The surfaces are frosty light brown, showing an impressive intermingling of design elements: the date 1773 above VA of NOVA, the outstretched hand of Britannia under REA of CAESAREA, the king's ordinal III near P of PLURIBUS, ribbon ends and much of GEORGIUS on the other side of the reverse. There is enough detail on the undertype, and the date punches are distinctive enough, that positively identifying the family group of the counterfeit halfpenny would not be too hard. A few old short scratches cross the truncation of the horsehead, little nicks right of date, and a trivial bit of shallow surface verdigris are present at the base of the shield. The overall eye appeal is superb for the variety.