1787 NJ 1/2P Llama Head, Maris 40-b, BN MS(PCGS#763335)

November 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

1331

Grade

F12BN

Price

3,360

Lot Description

110.9 grains. One of the most charismatic of the New Jersey varieties, the Maris 40-b is certainly in the running for most charismatic nickname too. The distinctive Llama Head resembles the Deer Heads (and the unique Maris 73 1/2 - jj, one of the highlights of the August Collection). Most (or all?) examples of this die variety are overstruck, and this one is no exception, though the host type is indeterminate. A bit of undertype design is visible left of the date and under the plow handles on the obverse, and some of the misshapen elements on the reverse are likely from the undertype as well. The surfaces are fairly even light brown, an attractive shade, over lightly granular surfaces. The planchet is a broad 29.4 mm, with a bit of a straight edge at the upper left obverse and a broader unstruck area outside the legend at the upper right obverse. The reverse, rotated a bit clockwise from standard coin turn, is aligned to the southwest quadrant. The date is present, though that exergual area is a bit rougher than elsewhere and shows some abrasions, particularly right of the date, left from an effort to minimize some surface scale. Aside from a light hairline scratch from central obverse toward 1:30, no other significant marks or defects are seen. SHI Die State 2, with a filled R in CAESAREA, the most typical die state. Though "only" a Rarity-5+ variety, the Llama Head punches above its weight, bringing more than other similarly rare Maris numbers because of its distinctive personality. A nice VF coin would be a Condition Census contender. The price record for the variety remains the $49,937 Syd Martin paid for the Ted Craige coin in our January 2013 sale, a realization that had as much to do with the unusual undertype -- a 1780-H French sou -- as its rank as fourth finest known. It's the only Condition Census example to sell at auction since the 2003 Ford sale.