1786 NJ 1/2P Maris 12-I, Shaggy Mane, BN MS(PCGS#767872)

The November 2012 Baltimore Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

6074

Grade

VF25BN

Price

11,750

Lot Description

Condition Census 1786 Maris 12-I No Coulter 1786 New Jersey Copper. Maris 12-I, W-4795. Rarity-4. No Coulter. VF-25 (PCGS). 162.8 grains. Very pleasing light brown with deeper olive tones around legends and devices. A handsome example of this very scarce type, represented almost entirely by varieties that range from rare to extremely rare. The obverse of this piece shows the high relief horsehead in excellent style, with centering that leaves denticles around all but the area from 5 o'clock to 7 o'clock. The date is complete and bold, though we note a trace of some kind of adhesive or something else easily removable in the vicinity. The reverse is nearly as choice as the obverse, with ideal centering, full denticles, and great color, though we note a very light zigzag scratch where the gules meet the azure in the shield. The only clearly finer specimen of this variety is the Parmelee-Mills-Ryder-Boyd-Ford coin, which brought $21,850 in 2003. The new Siboni-Howesish work on New Jerseys carries this coin as second finest known, and we see no reason to disagree. PCGS# 494. Provenance: From the John "Jack" Royse Collection. Earlier from our (Stack's) 1990 Fixed Price List, lot 137.