Stack’s Bowers Galleries is excited to present a newly
discovered example of the 1786
Maris 10 1/2-C NJ copper in their upcoming August 2020 Las Vegas Auction. The
Maris 10 1/2-C is a relative newcomer to the corpus of the New Jersey copper
series, which now totaling 144 distinct varieties. New Jersey State Coppers
(2013) authors Siboni, Howes and Ish suggest that both 8 ½-C and 10 ½-C “may
have been struck toward the end of the New Jersey pattern period.” as
“stylistically, [the obverses] seem to represent a transition between the
patterns and the coins produced for regular circulation.”
Not even the most advanced student of this series had the
chance to own these dies before 1992, and the opportunity has arison since
2001. The discovery piece was found in early 1992 by a New Jersey dealer in a
mixed accumulation and was shortly thereafter confirmed by specialists Don
Mituzas and Michael Hodder. It was sold in our (Stack’s) January 1993 sale and
eventually passed through the hands of R.E. Naftzger, Jr. before appearing in
our (Stack’s) January 2001 sale of the William O’Donnell Collection. It has
most recently been reported in the collection of series specialist A. Buell
Ish.
The new specimen in our August auction was unearthed circa
2017 by metal detectorist Chad Dabkowski near Plymouth, Massachusetts, but only
identified as Maris 10 1/2-C in early 2020 with the help of Don Hartman, Roger
Moore, Ray Williams and Wayne Shelby. It was first published in an article by
Hartman in the Spring 2020 C4 Newsletter. We are thrilled to be offering it publicly for the first time,
recognized for the major rarity that it is.
It grades Extremely Fine or so in terms of sharpness, though
is obscured by varying degrees of roughness from two centuries spent in the
ground. The design elements have been eroded away but are faithfully
represented by incuse depressions of plum and sandy-brown shades. The fields
are distinguished by a mossy, olive-green patina on both sides.
It is remarkable to note that Maris 10 ½-C was missing from
our historic November 2019 sale of the E. Pluribus Unum Collection of New
Jersey Coppers. That sale offered a stunning 110 varieties, including an
astounding eight examples from the Maris plate. While several Rarity-8 examples
were featured, 10 ½-C had proven elusive to even this advanced collector.
This historic Maris 10 ½-C is featured in lot
2261 of our August 2020 Las Vegas Auction, accompanying highlights from the
Sherwood Collection of Civil War Tokens, the ESM Collection of Large Cents,
selections from the Anthony J. Taraszka Collection of Early Eagles, selections
from the D. Brent Pogue Numismatic Library and many other rarities. The sale is
available for bidding and viewing on our website www.StacksBowers.com,
or you may contact us to secure a copy of the printed catalog. Also, download
our mobile app to view and participate in our auctions via your Android or
Apple device.
