1787 New Jersey cent authenticity

Well, I bought this NJ copper a few years ago on ebay. It was the first piece I purchased since my reawakening into the hobby. Since then, I've come to question its authenticity. There's nothing in particular about it that concerns me, except for the fact that these are so often faked. What's the verdict?

 

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The coin looks to be authentic! However, I have concerns about the West to East lines on the surface of the Obverse and the WestSouthWest to EastNorthEast lines on the surface of the Reverse. I can't tell if it is the quality of the picture, lines on a possible holder or actual sanding marks on the coin! If the latter, then i would say that the coin may be a Counterfeit and has been intentionally sanded down to simulate wear.


Frank

 

Ah, I see what you mean. Thankfully, those lines are all caused by my scanner! So I seem to have lucked out, with a genuine colonial coin from ebay.

I'll check the Maris book tommorow and try for a better ID.

 

Ardatirion,that is definitely a geniune New Jersey 1c. coin,as these were not struck within a collar,which is why it looks lopsided.

Aidan.

 

You have mentioned this coin, but this is the first that I have seen it. I'm not a colonial expert, but the coin certainly looks genuine to me.

 

You can try this site as well:

http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinContents/DieCharts.html#NJdies

 

Another Frank's opinion:
Looks good to me also.

 

Real, very nice 18th century token. Scarce peice 2.

 

The line on the bottom of the reverse (shield side) bothers me.
Does anyone else think that is is funky?

 

Jerome,it is a coin,not a token.New Jersey was effectively an independent country between 1776 & 1789.The Articles of Confederation placed a very strong emphasis on states' rights.

Here's a link; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articles_of_Confederation .

Aidan.

 

I think that token is a proper term to use for the piece. If you look in the Red Book, many of these are referred to as tokens because they did not have a specific denomination, like cent or halfpenny.

 

I'm sticking to a coin, as it was issued by a government. British coinage wasn't marked with a denomination untl the 1860's in some instances, by those pieces are undoubtedly coins.

And yes, I noticed those lines on the reverse. They are a bit suspicious.