1786 NJ Narrow Shield - Beam Curved Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Pairing a narrow shield reverse with a curved plow beam on the obverse, this 1786 New Jersey copper exemplifies the rich variety of die combinations that makes the New Jersey series a centerpiece of colonial American numismatics. Cataloged as Maris 16-L and related die marriages with Whitman 4750, the narrow shield reverse features a more slender version of the New Jersey state arms than the broad shield varieties, while the curved plow beam — as opposed to a straight beam — defines the obverse die. The interaction between these two design variables (shield width and beam curvature) across dozens of die combinations produces the complex matrix of varieties documented in the Maris reference. Moderately scarce, this piece belongs to the Post-1776 States Coinage (1776-1788) series. New Jersey coppers were produced under a contract granted by the state legislature in 1786 to Walter Mould, Thomas Goadsby, and Albion Cox, who operated their coining facility at Rahway, New Jersey. The sheer number of die marriages in the series — over 140 cataloged by Maris — reflects both the high production volume and the decentralized die-making process where multiple engravers independently interpreted the prescribed plow-and-shield design. The narrow shield and curved beam combination places this variety within a specific subgroup of the 1786 production that colonial copper specialists pursue as they work toward assembling comprehensive collections organized by the Maris numbering system.

Rarity Notes

Moderately scarce.

Cross References

Maris 16-L and related; Whitman 4750