1786 NJ 1/2P Leaning Head, Maris 15-L, BN MS(PCGS#766283)

1786 NJ 1/2P Leaning Head, Maris 15-L, BN MS (PCGS#766283)

The November 2012 Baltimore Auction

Lot Description: The Norweb Maris 15-L Tied for Finest Known 1786 New Jersey Copper. Maris 15-L, W-4820. Rarity-3. Narrow Shield, Straight Plow Beam. EF-45 (PCGS). 145.4 grains. Lustrous light brown with exquisite eye appeal. A gorgeous coin, tied in the Siboni-Howesish census for finest known with the Maris-Garrett coin and the Boyd-Ford specimen. This piece is well struck and marvelously preserved, with just a thin hairline scratch above the snout worth mentioning. In our cataloging of this coin in the Norweb sale, we described it as "Light golden brown. Struck on a smooth planchet, slightly off-center toward the lower left of the obverse and upper left of the reverse. Somewhat later state of the obverse, with rim break beginning beneath 6 in the date and extending upwards to the right to include the last two letters of the obverse legend. Superior to Taylor:2167, close runner up to Garrett:1401." The visual appeal of this piece is unbeatable, and the surfaces remain frosty and fresh. A gorgeous New Jersey. PCGS# 45423. Provenance: From the John "Jack" Royse Collection. Earlier from our (Stack's) 1990 Fixed Price List, lot 140; our (Bowers and Merena) sale of the Norweb Collection, Part I, October 1987, lot 1317. Acquired by Mrs. Norweb from Richard Picker on September 1, 1958.