A RARE 1787 CONNECTICUT HALFPENNY IN INCREDIBLE SHAPE!!!

Erik in NJ

Silver Member
Oct 4, 2010
4,037
3,043
The Garden State
🥇 Banner finds
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Detector(s) used
Minelab Explorer SE Pro & CTX-3030
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
This Victorian-era property I have been working this past weekend in my town has turned out to be a Colonial oasis. I have found many several Colonial firsts on this property which has been a real surprise and I believe is due to the remains of an old mill which is in the area. I will save those items for future posts, but wanted to share this incredible Connecticut halfpenny, which based on the decorator used in the die makes it rare or very rare coin to boot. It displayed on my Explorer SE Pro like a silver quarter, probably because it's in such good shape. Large coppers in northern NJ rarely if ever come out of the ground looking like this! I am also excited because it is my first colonial State copper in over twelve years of detecting. I have not nailed down the exact variety and have included photos and scans, neither of which really do the coin any justice. It is stuck off center and the date in cut in half, but due to the few years in which this coin was minted it must be a 1787 and there were over 200 varieties of this coin in that year! Please also note the die crack which goes through the letters "AUCT". This copper is the "Draped Bust" variety. Also note the very interesting look of the eye.
 

Attachments

  • CT 1787 Halfpenny Photo (obverse).JPG
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  • CT 1787 Halfpenny Photo (reverse).JPG
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  • CT 1787 Halfpenny Scan (obverse).jpg
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  • CT 1787 Halfpenny Scan (reverse).jpg
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Upvote 53
An additional bit of "color" on this coin--I just weighed it on a Tanita professional-mini digital scale and it weighs in at 10.2 grams or 157.4 grains. Thought guys like IP, Don, hogge etc. would like the additional info. Still working on getting better photos.

Just for reference the Stack's coin of Lot #11238 weighed 149.0 grains.

The coin was commissioned to weigh six pennyweight which is equivalent to 144.0 grains.
 

Last edited:
An additional bit of "color" on this coin--I just weighed it on a Tanita professional-mini digital scale and it weighs in at 10.2 grams or 157.4 grains. Thought guys like IP, Don, etc. would like the additional info. Still working on getting better photos.


No I'm good. I'll just wait for the mail to receive it. :)
 

No I'm good. I'll just wait for the mail to receive it. :)

No problem IP--you've been very helpful regarding this coin; however, it may arrive at your door with pretty good "postage due" surcharge :laughing7:
 

No problem IP--you've been very helpful regarding this coin; however, it may arrive at your door with pretty good "postage due" surcharge :laughing7:



oh yeah, the..... so-nice-I'm-never-going-to-sell-unless-you're-dumb-enough-to-pay-that-much-tax.

On 2nd thought, I'll look for my own. 8-)
 

I've been under the weather with some crap in my chest,makes my head feel funny too,I take a second look at this and it most certainly is a Banner find,COOL Eric! GodBless Chris
 

I've been under the weather with some crap in my chest,makes my head feel funny too,I take a second look at this and it most certainly is a Banner find,COOL Eric! GodBless Chris

Hi Chris! Hoping you feel better soon...thanks for the kind words and the banner vote--I really appreciate it!

Best, Erik
 

Wow Erik that thing is unreal. Did you find it encased in wax in a sand pit?! Man I could only dream of soil like that down here. Great coin! Thats definitely a keeper and would look good on the banner.
 

Erin in NJ, WOW! Big time congrats on a finding a stunner. Most of of us are connoisseurs of dug crusty coppers. To see one come out of the ground like that is a treat. Banner vote from me.
 

Wow Erik that thing is unreal. Did you find it encased in wax in a sand pit?! Man I could only dream of soil like that down here. Great coin! Thats definitely a keeper and would look good on the banner.

Thanks very much Jim! I could only wish that all large copper up here in northern NJ would come out of the soil like that! Appreciate the banner vote!
 

Erin in NJ, WOW! Big time congrats on a finding a stunner. Most of of us are connoisseurs of dug crusty coppers. To see one come out of the ground like that is a treat. Banner vote from me.

Hi Jeff! Well it was certainly a treat for me too as most of my coppers are dug crusty too! Thanks so much for the Banner vote! Best, Erik
 

How are you making out with those pics Erik? If we meet up this weekend I can help.
 

That.Was.Awesome!
 

Mother nature treated that coin with kindness beautiful :icon_thumleft: Jim
 

CONGRATS ON THE BANNER!!!!!
:occasion14: :occasion14: :occasion14: :occasion14: :occasion14: :occasion14:
 

Congratulations on making the banner! Hogge
 

CONGRATS ON BANNER!!! 13 colonies are always great coins to find:icon_thumleft:=ED
 

Deserving for sure. You'll see rarer CTs dug, but I think it will be a very long time before another gets posted in that condition.
 

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