From the Heritage sale of the Donald G. Partrick collection, sold as lot #15039 on 03/17/21, where it was described as: “1786 New Jersey Copper, AU50. Maris 16-L Protruding Tongue Variety. 1786 New Jersey Copper, Protruding Tongue, Maris 16-L, W-4840, R.2, AU50 NGC. A handsome example of the so-called "Protruding Tongue" variety, named after the die break visibly extending from the horse's mouth to the R of CAESAREA. The coin is well-struck, with good definition in the horse's mane and a carefully rendered eye. Central details are a little soft, as seen in the obverse scroll and the reverse shield. The coin's patina is a rich honey brown, though the obverse has darker streaks running diagonally across the central devices. While this piece does not exhibit the central die failures that mark the final die state, the distinctive rim cud between the RE of the obverse legend is boldly distinct. The Maris 16 horse head is charming, if a little unusual, with the hair on top resembling a person's hair more than a horse's mane, and brushed forward further to the right of the eye than is normally seen. Describing the obverse die in his 1881 classic A Historical Sketch of the Coins of New Jersey, Maris correctly noted that the scroll beneath the horse is "prolonged toward the left, as in no other instance." The L reverse was used in seven different die combinations and is a biennial die, being used with some 1787-dated obverses. The shield is placed too far to the left in the die, making it overly to the right on the coin--the visual effect of which is emphasized on this example by its being struck somewhat off-center toward 3 o'clock. The reverse remains in an early die state, without the die break extending from the E to the rim. On the whole, the 16-L is struck from well-produced dies, and this is a solid example of the popular Guide Book variety. Listed on page 73 of the 2021 Guide Book. Ex: Stack's (3/1997); Donald G. Partrick.” The coin was purchased from the Partrick sale by CVM on 03/17/21 for $1,680, and I purchased the coin from Chris on 10/27/23 at the Nashville coin show for a considerably higher price. This is the nicest example that I have seen in person, and it has lustrous semi-reflective surfaces with little trace of wear. The horse’s hair is particularly well-defined, and the coin is well-struck, well-centered, and virtually mark-free. That combined with perfect peanut butter tan brown color definitely makes this a PLUS coin. The only detraction are those carbon streaks on the obverse, and frankly, they appear to be ON the surface and not IN the surface, and I suspect they could be easily removed by a conservation service. Regardless, this is a premium example and certainly one that I do not expect to be able to upgrade.
