1787 NJ 1/2P Camel Head, BN AU50BN 认证号50449840, PCGS号515

From the Earlycoppercoins PCGS Registry Set. A gorgeous lustrous medium tan example of the Camel Head Redbook type. Purchased from the Stacks November 2024 Baltimore auction as lot #1280, where it was described as: “1787 New Jersey Copper. Maris 56-n, W-5310. Rarity-1. No Sprig Above Plow, Camel Head. Overstruck on a Contemporary Counterfeit Irish Halfpenny. AU-50 (PCGS). 127.6 grains. So choice that it was cataloged as "Uncirc. V. rare gem" in Schulman's 1955 sale of the Spiro Collection. Off center such that two-thirds of the date is off the planchet, upper left reverse border engaging the top of the letter R in PLURIBUS. Otherwise we note plenty of sharp to full striking detail, traces of the undertype clearest in the left obverse field and at the left reverse border within the letters E PLU. Smooth olive-brown surfaces are hard, tight and frosty - a lovely high grade example of this popular type variety in the New Jersey copper series. Provenance: From the Ross Family Collection. Earlier from Hans M.F. Schulman's sale of the Dr. Jacob N. Spiro Collection, March 1955, lot 1571; our (Stack's) sale of the Bareford Collection of New Jersey Coppers, May 1984 Greater New York Numismatic Convention Sale, Part I, lot 186; our (Kingwood Galleries') Franconia Sale, August 1992, lot 6615; McCawley-Grellman's Ninth Annual C-4 Convention Sale, November 2003, lot 427.” The coin realized $1,920 in this latest appearance. Absolutely a gorgeous, glossy, premium example, and I don’t expect to ever upgrade this one, at least not easily! PCGS #515.50/50449840, with “Camel Head Struck on Irish 1/2D, Spiro” listed on the PCGS label.

Ron Guth

This variety derived its name from the horse's oversized snout.  Three obverse dies qualify as the "Camel Head" variety: Maris 56, 57, and 58.  All three obverses are combined with the same reverse - Maris n. 

Early states of this variety show a perfect reverse.  Later states of the reverse show light cracks running from the rim just below the E to the shield and another above the first U of PLURIBUS from the rim to the upper left tip of the shield.  Many of this variety were struck over Connecticut Coppers, Vermont Coppers (including a 1788 Ryder 16), and English Halfpennies.