1787 NJ 1/2P Large Head, Maris 72-z, BN MS(PCGS#767911)

November 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

1379

Grade

VF30BN

Price

16,200

Lot Description

145.4 grains. Good looking medium brown, a bit darker around devices, on minutely granular surfaces. The obverse is complete, sharp, and well centered, with denticles bordering the entire lower half and a good full legend. A natural edge flaw is seen over the last A of CAESAREA and a tiny rim abrasion is centered over the star after NOVA, but no significant marks are noted. On the reverse, denticles are bold from 8 o'clock to 3 o'clock, the shield's details are beautiful delineated, and the legend is bold and complete but for where the M of UNUM is interrupted by the exergual line of the Connecticut undertype. The full 1787 of the host is visible, as is INDE at the lower left of the shield. The boldest part of the host legend seen on the obverse is CO of CONNEC in front of the snout, but other letters may be seen as well. Aside from a minor scratch left of the shield, this piece is remarkably problem-free for the grade.<p>As rare as this variety is, the SHI Condition Census includes some pretty nice coins. The Ford coin and the Maris-Garrett-Partrick coins are ranked 1-2, both graded VF+. Two VF coins without public auction records are next on the census, and the fifth ranked coin is the net graded VFn Miller-Frontenac coin. Those in ranks six through nine are all listed as VF. The E Pluribus Unum coin is ranked CC6. Graded VF-20 (PCGS), it was a nice chocolate brown coin with lots of attractively placed undertype; we sold it in November 2019 for $5,760. The Frontenac coin is listed in the seven spot, and eighth best is the Newman coin, an NGC F-15 that brought $8,225 in 2014. This piece is ranked ninth. We haven't sold a specimen of this variety that received a non-Details grade from PCGS in six years. This piece's color, look, and grade places it in the top echelon of survivors and makes it desirable to those who lack this variety and those hoping to upgrade.