1788 NJ 1/2P Fox Before Legend, Maris 75-bb, BN MS(PCGS#783095)

November 2019 Baltimore Colonial Coins and Americana Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

6226

Grade

VF30BN

Price

3,120

Lot Description

1788 New Jersey copper. Maris 75-bb. Rarity-4. Running Fox. VF-30 (PCGS). 149.6 grains. 28.7 mm. Glossy and smooth, with choice dark chocolate surfaces and lighter contrasting devices. Some trivial hairlines are seen on and below the horsehead, and a short old scratch is noted at the second U of PLURIBUS. The obverse die break is impressively retained, both from the quatrefoil below NOVA down to the exergue and across the tops of VA C of NOVA CAESAREA, late Die State 2. The running fox is perfectly bold, framed by an arc of denticles in the lower left reverse, and other design elements are complete. This is not the rarest Running Fox, but nice examples are tough to find. The nicest we’ve offered recently is the Archangel specimen from our October 2018 sale, though the Stickney-NN60-Craige piece from our January 2013 sale is considered the finest known. Provenance: From the E Pluribus Unum Collection of New Jersey Coppers. PCGS# 783095and 524. Click here for certification details from PCGS.