1788 VT 1/2P Backward C, BN
1788 VT 1/2P Georgivs III Rex, BN

1788 VT 1/2P ET LIB INDE, BN (Regular Strike)

Series: U.S. Colonial Issues

PCGS XF45BN

PCGS XF45BN

PCGS XF45BN

PCGS XF45BN

PCGS XF40BN

PCGS XF40BN

PCGS #:
569
Designer:
N/A
Edge:
N/A
Diameter:
N/A
Weight:
N/A
Mintage:
N/A
Mint:
Philadelphia
Metal:
Other
Auction Record:
$71,875 • UNC • 10-01-2003 • Stack's
Major Varieties
  • 1788 VT 1/2P ET LIB INDE, BN
Die Varieties

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos Grade Image Pedigree and History
1 PCGS XF45

Paramount, October 1966, Lot 30. As "EF-40." "The Dr. Robert I. Hinkley Collection," Bowers and Merena, November 29, 2001, Lot 2370; Jack Wadlington; Anthony Terranova; Stack's Rare Coins, January 2008. As PCGS #46767198. "The Sydney F. Martin Collection," Stack's Bowers, August 24, 2023, Lot 8406 - $13,200; "The RUATWINCOIN Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). RR-18. 125.4 grains. 
1 PCGS XF45

"The Richard August Collection," Stack's Bowers, November 18, 2025, Lot 1423 - $8,400. RR-18. 87.7 grains.
1 PCGS XF45

RR-18.
4 PCGS XF40

Q. David Bowers; Q. David Bowers to Dr. Robert I. Hinkley, 1972; Dr. Robert I. Hinkley, 1993; unknown intermediary; "The Medio Collection," American Numismatic Rarities & Stack's, June 23, Lot 2030 - $4,060. As PCGS XF40 #36421759. Stack's Bowers, March 5, 2019, Lot 321 - $12,000. RR-18.
4 PCGS XF40

RR-18.
6 PCGS VF35

Stack's Bowers, June 23, 2026, Lot 1187 - $4,514. RR-18.
7 PCGS VF30

Stack's Bowers, March 17, 2026, Lot 1589 - $2,040. RR-18.
7 PCGS VF30

RR-18.
7 PCGS VF30

RR-18.
7 PCGS VF30

RR-18.
#1 PCGS XF45

Paramount, October 1966, Lot 30. As "EF-40." "The Dr. Robert I. Hinkley Collection," Bowers and Merena, November 29, 2001, Lot 2370; Jack Wadlington; Anthony Terranova; Stack's Rare Coins, January 2008. As PCGS #46767198. "The Sydney F. Martin Collection," Stack's Bowers, August 24, 2023, Lot 8406 - $13,200; "The RUATWINCOIN Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). RR-18. 125.4 grains. 
#1 PCGS XF45

"The Richard August Collection," Stack's Bowers, November 18, 2025, Lot 1423 - $8,400. RR-18. 87.7 grains.
#1 PCGS XF45

RR-18.
#4 PCGS XF40

Q. David Bowers; Q. David Bowers to Dr. Robert I. Hinkley, 1972; Dr. Robert I. Hinkley, 1993; unknown intermediary; "The Medio Collection," American Numismatic Rarities & Stack's, June 23, Lot 2030 - $4,060. As PCGS XF40 #36421759. Stack's Bowers, March 5, 2019, Lot 321 - $12,000. RR-18.
#4 PCGS XF40

RR-18.
#6 PCGS VF35

Stack's Bowers, June 23, 2026, Lot 1187 - $4,514. RR-18.
#7 PCGS VF30

Stack's Bowers, March 17, 2026, Lot 1589 - $2,040. RR-18.
#7 PCGS VF30

RR-18.
#7 PCGS VF30

RR-18.
#7 PCGS VF30

RR-18.
Charles Morgan:

The 1788 Vermont Copper, Bust Right, RR-18

The RR-18 (#696198) is a product of Machin's Mills and is typically found in mid-to-low circulated grades, having been struck over Irish halfpence. The variety is identified by the inscription ?ET LIB? ?INDE, used here and on the rare RR-35 (#889558). On most other Bust varieties, the inscription appears with some variation of "INDE ET LIB"; one can only speculate why the order was reversed.

Examples are known on both heavy and light planchets, but coins struck in the 75-to-90-grain weight range are scarcer than the heavier specimens. The finest examples certified by PCGS grade XF45. With fewer than 15 known to exist, the RR-18 is considered rare.

  • Obverse: A Romanized bust of King George II featuring a beaded breastplate. The legend reads VERMON AUCTORI, with canted lettering. Undertype details are visible on many examples, and a prominent die crack runs diagonally through the portrait.
  • Reverse: Depicts a seated Britannia. The inscription ?ET LIB? ?INDE wraps around the left and right borders. A crude ground line separates the figure from the exergue. The date is bungled, with "88" blending directly into the line.

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