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

August 2023 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

3115

Grade

AU55BN

Price

20,400

Lot Description

High Grade 1788 Maris 75-bb Running Fox AU-55 (PCGS) 1788 New Jersey Copper. Maris 75-bb, W-5520. Rarity-4. Running Fox Before Legend. AU-55 (PCGS). 147.5 grains. Attractive golden tan with mostly smooth, glossy surfaces. A high grade and pleasing specimen, nicely centered and extremely well detailed on both sides. A neat arc of denticles offers a border beneath the date, though the rim above NOVA is ill-defined, with a relatedly minor lamination crossing through A. Scattered minor marks are seen, like a little rim nick under the date, a couple of parallel diagonal scratches in the left obverse field, and a few little rim nicks atop the obverse. Whatever hairlines are present are extremely minor. Die State 2, with a substantial cud along the lower left obverse rim. The fact that this piece is late die state and still shows so much central detail, particularly inside the shield, makes this a singularly impressive coin. The finest known example, from Stickney, NN60 and our 2013 Craige sale, was last offered in our sale of April 2022 graded AU-58 (PCGS); it brought $50,400. Two other AUs are listed in the census, both unverified, in the Anton and Yale University collections. After that, the SHI census lists four EFs, led by the EF+ Roper coin and including the NJHS piece. A few others could probably be added, like the Laird Park - Archangel AU-50 (PCGS), the Newman NGC EF-45, and Dittmer's NGC EF-40. Needless to say, this AU-55 (PCGS) probably deserves a ranking among the top half of known specimens. As a major type coin and a scarce variety, its condition takes on added importance. Provenance: From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. PCGS# 783095. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.