1786 New Jersey Copper, Narrow Shield, Curved Plow Beam NGC VF30BN

Here is a rare piece from early American history. This post-colonial, pre-federal issue has an interesting look to it. NGC has graded only 59 of the 1786 Beam Curved issue. Of those, there are 19 in VF with 13 finer.

The New Jersey coat of arms, adopted in 1777, includes two devices from the coin offered by AUCM: the horse's head and the farmer's plow. (Public domain)

New Jersey Coppers carry the legend Nova Caesarea upon the obverse. (Latin for 'New Jersey') "Caesarea" is the ancient name for the island of Jersey in the English Channel, for in Roman times it was called Caesar's Island ('Caesarea'). Therefore, when Latinizing the name of the state, it became 'Nova Caesarea' upon the copper coins such as the current offering from AUCM.

The obverse of these New Jersey Coppers features the head of a horse and a plow. Such images are found on the Coat of Arms of the State of New Jersey, which was adopted in 1777. The designer of the New Jersey coat of arms, Pierre Eugene du Simitiere, was also involved in crafting the Great Seal of the United States. In fact, du Simitiere is credited for suggesting the national slogan, 'E Pluribus Unum' (One, Out of Many). Perhaps that is why 'E Pluribus Unum' is found upon New Jersey Coppers, the first coins ever to carry that legend.