1776 Copper Massachusetts, Indian, BN (Regular Strike)

David Hall:

The only known specimen has a hole in the left obverse field, and has the detail of an AG03 to GD06 coin as the strike is somewhat uneven.

P. Scott Rubin: The 1776 Massachusetts Copper with Standing Indian, Bow, and Arrow is a unique coin in the collection of the American Numismatic Society in New York City. It is part of a trio of unique patterns of 1776 Massachusetts Copper coins. These three coins all have one part of their design in common. On one side of each coin is the image of a female figure seated on a globe and a watchdog at her feet. Due to the similarity of the workmanship and the fact that one of the three coins was reported to have been found with items known to have been the work of Paul Revere, it is believed my some numismatists that Revere is the creator of all three.

It is also believed that this coin was made first, since part of the legend on the coin refers to the Province of Massachusetts, hence it was made before July 4th, 1776. The other two coins refer to the State of Massachusetts.

The condition of the coin is also interesting and differs from the other two unique 1776 Massachusetts Copper Patterns. While the other two coins are in relatively nice shape for coins minted circa 1776, the Indian with Bow and Arrow has been holed and shows much wear, perhaps from being carried or worn on a chain of some type by a previous owner (was it Paul Revere or someone in his family?). The coin is also struck over a 1747 George II Halfpenny (originally said to be Irish Halfpenny but ANS calls it a British Halfpenny). It is also the last of the three varieties to be discovered. It was first reported to the numismatic world by Howland Wood in the June 1911 issue of The Numismatist, while the other two coins were known by at least 1873.

The coin was next exhibited by Howland Wood in the 1914 ANS Exhibit in January and February in New York City. It was then offered for sale with the June, 1914 Henry Chapman Sale of the Parsons Collection as lot 98 (however, the coin was described as being offered for sale by Howland Wood). By 1917 the coin was in the collection of ANS where it still resides.