Owner Comments:
Pictured above is a 1788 New Jersey Running Fox Left Copper Half Pence, (Die State III), graded VF 35 by PCGS. It has been classified as Maris 77-dd or W-5535. There are 5 Running Fox varieties (Maris 74-bb/W-5515;Maris 75-bb/W-5520; 76-cc/W-5525; Maris 77-cc/W-5530; and Maris 77-dd/W-5535), utilizing 5 obverse and 3 reverse dies. Maris 77-dd is seen in one of three die states, expressed as a roman numeral suffix to the Maris number: 1) Die State I exhibits no damage to the obverse or reverse dies; 2) Die State II reflects damage to the central portion of the obverse die, often giving the horse the appearance of having arms; 3) Die State III exhibits a massive diagonal break above the horse's head on the obverse, and another on the reverse extending along the left side of the shield to its lower tip. (At one time the later die states of Maris 77-dd were erroneously classified as a different variety - i.e. Maris 78-dd, but this is no longer accepted.)
The Running Fox variety derives its name from a running animal, popularly viewed as a fox, (that Maris and Breen deemed a horse) appearing on the left side of the reverse, between the lowest quatrefoil and the "E" in E Pluribus Unum of the legend. (In four very rare known examples, this animal is located on the right side of the reverse (Maris 76-cc/W-5525).
Some have attributed the Maris 77-dd to John Bailey, who worked with Ephraim Brasher in NYC, and had as one of his hallmarks, a running fox. The Maris 77-dd has been punch-linked to his reputed work on the Nova Eborac and Excelsior coppers, and the NY style Brasher Doubloons.
HISTORY: On 6/1/1786, the New Jersey legislature granted coining privileges to a group of three enterprising individuals. They were to produce 3 million copper coins, each composed of 150 grains of pure copper, over a period of two years. Multiple mint sites evolved: in Rahway, Morristown, and Elizabethtown; with connections to out-of-state sites, such as New York City (John Bailey) and Machin Mills.
Elements of the coppers' design were taken from the State's seal, attributed to Pierre du Simitiere. Although as many as 144 varieties exist, many very unique, most exhibit common obverse and reverse motifs: The obverse displays a truncated horse's head,in varying styles, usually facing right, with a plow below and the peripheral inscription "Nova Caesarea", the Latinized name for New Jersey.
The common reverse features a shield in its center, (based on the Great Seal of the US), with the peripheral legend - "E Pluribus Unum" - the first use on a coin of what would ultimately become our national motto.
Many New Jersey coppers were struck over Connecticut coppers, Irish halfpence, counterfeit English halfpence, and others that could be obtained more cheaply than creating planchets from scratch.
The 1881 scholarly treatise of Dr. Edward Maris, "A Historic Sketch of the Coins of New Jersey With a Plate", serves as a foundation for the alphanumeric designations still used today.