P. Scott Rubin:
The 1786 New Jersey Copper coins with date under plow and No Coulter is a very scarce variety only seen on coins struck with this date. The Coulter is a part of the plow that crosses the plow beam and is used to break up the sod while plowing. This element was not used on some 1786 New Jersey Coppers possibly because on the first variety, with the date under the plow beam or draw bar the date was where the Coulter should go. On eight known Maris obverse dies of 1786 with the date under the plow the Coulter was left off, while the Coulter was included on remainder of the 1786 known obverse dies and all the 1787 and 1788 Obverses.
For most collectors the chance to obtain a No Coulter coin comes from obtaining one of three scarce Maris varieties the Maris 12-G, Maris 12-I or Maris 11-H. There are another eleven Maris varieties that range from very rare to unique. These include four currently unique coins: Maris 10-oo, 10.5-C, 11-G and 11-hh. Followed by one Rarity-8 coin the Maris 8.5-C; five Rarity-7 coins the Maris 9-G, 10.gg, 10-h, 11.5-G and 22-P; and one Rarity-6+ coin the Maris 10-G. Because so many of the known varieties of the 1786 No Coulter New Jersey Copper are extremely rare a collector is advised to check the Maris variety of any such coin found unattributed.
Sources:
“A Guide Book of United States Coins”, by R.S. Yeoman, Kenneth Bressett (Senior Editor)
“New Jersey State Coppers”, by Roger S. Siboni, John L. Howes and A. Buell Ish
“New Jersey Coppers”, by Michael A. Demling
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