1786 VT 1/2P Vermontensium, BN
1786 VT 1/2P Bust Left, BN

1786 VT 1/2P Baby Head, BN (Regular Strike)

Series: U.S. Colonial Issues

PCGS AU53BN

PCGS AU53BN

PCGS AU53BN

PCGS AU53BN

PCGS XF40BN

PCGS XF40BN

PCGS #:
548
Designer:
N/A
Edge:
N/A
Diameter:
N/A
Weight:
N/A
Mintage:
N/A
Mint:
Philadelphia
Metal:
Other
Auction Record:
$34,500 • AU53 • 05-21-2008 • Stack's
Major Varieties
  • 1786 VT 1/2P Baby Head, BN
Die Varieties

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos Grade Image Pedigree and History
1 PCGS AU53

"The Minot Collection," Stack's, May 22, 2008, Lot 51 - $34,500. As PCGS AU53 #37300259. "The Q. David Bowers Collection," Stack's Bowers, June 23, 2020, Lot 205 - $28,800. RR-9. 123.8 grains. Plated in Bowers (2018), Carlotto (1993), and Whitman's Colonial Coin Encyclopedia (2009). 
1 PCGS AU53

"The Richard August Collection," Stack's Bowers, November 18, 2025, Lot 1405 - $28,800; "The RUATWINCOIN Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). RR-9. 134 grains.
1 PCGS AU53

RR-9.
4 PCGS AU50

RR-9.
5 PCGS XF40

Stack's Bowers, November 18, 2019, Lot 4095 - $5,760. RR-9.
5 PCGS XF40

Ellis and Doris Robison. As "Choice Very Fine or better." "The Robison Collection," Stack's February 10, 1982, Lot 194. As PCGS Genuine #35776462. "The Archangel Collection," October 2018, Lot 7101 - $2,880. As PCGS XF40 #35776462. "The Sydney F. Martin Collection," Stack's Bowers, August 24, 2023, Lot 8389 - $6,000. As PCGS XF40 #46767172 RR-9. 124.4 grains. Proceeds from the Robison Collection benefited Brown University, Cornell University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Russell Sage College. One of the finest known of the type. Scattered pinscratches on the reverse caused it to initially details grade, but upon further review, the grading room determined that these flaws did not preclude the coin from earning a straight grade.
7 PCGS VF35

RR-9.
7 PCGS VF35

"The Richard August Collection," Stack's Bowers, November 18, 2025, Lot 1406 - $4,800. RR-9. 126.2 grains.
#1 PCGS AU53

"The Minot Collection," Stack's, May 22, 2008, Lot 51 - $34,500. As PCGS AU53 #37300259. "The Q. David Bowers Collection," Stack's Bowers, June 23, 2020, Lot 205 - $28,800. RR-9. 123.8 grains. Plated in Bowers (2018), Carlotto (1993), and Whitman's Colonial Coin Encyclopedia (2009). 
#1 PCGS AU53

"The Richard August Collection," Stack's Bowers, November 18, 2025, Lot 1405 - $28,800; "The RUATWINCOIN Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). RR-9. 134 grains.
#1 PCGS AU53

RR-9.
#4 PCGS AU50

RR-9.
#5 PCGS XF40

Stack's Bowers, November 18, 2019, Lot 4095 - $5,760. RR-9.
#5 PCGS XF40

Ellis and Doris Robison. As "Choice Very Fine or better." "The Robison Collection," Stack's February 10, 1982, Lot 194. As PCGS Genuine #35776462. "The Archangel Collection," October 2018, Lot 7101 - $2,880. As PCGS XF40 #35776462. "The Sydney F. Martin Collection," Stack's Bowers, August 24, 2023, Lot 8389 - $6,000. As PCGS XF40 #46767172 RR-9. 124.4 grains. Proceeds from the Robison Collection benefited Brown University, Cornell University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Russell Sage College. One of the finest known of the type. Scattered pinscratches on the reverse caused it to initially details grade, but upon further review, the grading room determined that these flaws did not preclude the coin from earning a straight grade.
#7 PCGS VF35

RR-9.
#7 PCGS VF35

"The Richard August Collection," Stack's Bowers, November 18, 2025, Lot 1406 - $4,800. RR-9. 126.2 grains.
Ron Guth:

The 1786 Vermont "Baby Head" is so-named because of the infantile bust on the obverse of the coin. The head is rounded, the wreath atop the head looks like a cowlick, and the ribbon that ties the wreath is set so low that it appears as if it is tying up the baby's bib instead. While the coin may have a juvenile look, this is one of the more sophisticated varieties of the Vermont series. This was the ninth of the varieties identified by Hillyer Ryder (known as Ryder 9 today) and it is the only combination of the obverse and reverse dies. The ultimate Ryder 9 is one with a defect-free, glossy tan planchet that also exhibits a full strike (as expressed in the symbols that appear on the shield on the reverse). The best example known is the one in the Bennington Museum in Vermont. Years ago, that coin was stolen from the museum but has since been recovered. According to colonial coin expert, John Agre, who has viewed the coin in person, it is a stone-cold MS63 on a great planchet. The PCGS CoinFacts Condition census starts at VF. Any Ryder 9 in Extremely Fine or better is a condition rarity.