1786 1/2P Immunis Columbia, Shield Reverse, BN MS (PCGS#861)
October 2018 Baltimore U.S. Coins Auction
- 拍卖行
- Stack's Bowers
- 批号
- 7094
- 等级
- MS63BN
- 价格
- 835,769
- 详细说明
- The Finest Known New Jersey Immunis Columbia Copper
The Appleton-MHS Coin
1786 New Jersey Immunis Columbia. Shield Reverse. Maris 3-C, W-5670. Rarity-6+. MS-63 BN (PCGS).
125.3 grains. The finest of 17 recorded specimens of this important rarity, the coin that links the New Jersey copper series to the obscure but fascinating series of speculative patterns that seem to relate to potential contract coinage for the Confederation. Frosty medium brown and olive surfaces are choice and smooth, and orange-tan color surrounds many peripheral elements where mint color was last to fade. A wholly original coin, with surface dirt still accreted in some protected areas. The strike is well centered and bold, with denticles surrounding nearly the complete circumference of both. The obverse is lightly misaligned to 6:00, thereby allowing the full extent of the triangular denticles to be seen from 9:00 to just above 3:00. Details are firm everywhere but absolute center, as usual for this rarity, and a tiny planchet flaw was not completely struck out between the leftmost two uprights of the reverse shield. A truly minuscule mark is seen below the tip of the shield, the only mark on the immaculate fields. The aesthetic appeal is truly superb.
Most survivors of this unusual issue are in relatively high grade, suggesting special distribution that was followed by their preservation. This is the only example accorded full Mint State status in the Siboni-Howes-Ish census and is the single finest example certified. The Newman coin, graded MS-62 (NGC) at the time of its sale, is listed as third finest in that census and carried as “AU+.” Coins number 4 (the truly lovely Ford coin) and 7 (the Maris-Garrett coin) are both in MS-62 (PCGS) holders. Collected as part of the New Jersey copper series for its usage of Maris Reverse C, this coin may have been struck in New York City. The state of the art of research into this emission is summarized in the Siboni-Howes-Ish book: “What evidence there is seems to point toward a New York City origin for Maris 3-C, 5-C, and probably others, at the hands of [James] Atlee, in conjunction with [James] Jarvis and [Walter] Mould.”
We have placed this coin with the New Jersey coppers, as that is the collecting specialty that most activity seeks it out, but this could just as easily be sold near the Inimica Tyrannis Americana, the 1785 Immune Columbia, or even the Nova Constellatios. But the presence of that magical reverse, used in combination with this obverse, the GEN. WASHINGTON obverse of Maris 4-C, the Heraldic Eagle reverse that connects was used for a New York pattern, and a plain-jane New Jersey horsehead, guarantees that this issue will be forever associated with the coppers of New Jersey just as it was when Maris laid out his plate in 1881. Maris never had an example this fine, but when his plate was being produced, this piece was already safely ensconced in the William Sumner Appleton Collection. It has sold just once since.
Provenance: From the Archangel Collection. Earlier, from Stack’s 1976 American Numismatic Association sale, August 1976, lot 61; the William Sumner Appleton Collection, to the collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society by bequest in 1905.
PCGS Population: 1, none finer.
PCGS# 861
Click here for certification details from PCGS.
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