1788 VT 1/2P Georgivs III Rex, BN (Regular Strike)
Series: U.S. Colonial Issues
PCGS AU53BN
PCGS XF45BN
PCGS XF40BN
- PCGS #:
- 572
- Designer:
- N/A
- Edge:
- N/A
- Diameter:
- N/A
- Weight:
- N/A
- Mintage:
- N/A
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- Other
- Auction Record:
- $14,950 • VF20 • 01-01-2009 • Stack's
Major Varieties
- 1788 VT 1/2P Georgivs III Rex, BN
Condition Census What Is This?
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#1 PCGS AU53
Stack's Bowers, June 23, 2026, Lot 1199 - $4,880. RR-31. |
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#2 PCGS XF45
June 23, 2026, Lot 1200 - $9,150. RR-31. |
|
#3 PCGS XF40
"The Richard August Collection," Stack's Bowers, March 17, 2026, Lot 1468 - $2,880; "The RUATWINCOIN Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). RR-31. |
#3 PCGS XF40
As "Very Good." "The Andrew C. Zabriskie Collection," Henry Chapman, June 1909, Lot 55 - 50¢; Hillyer Ryder; F.C.C. Boyd. As "Technically Very Fine." "The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part I," Stack's, October 2003, Lot 69 - $3,000; Jim LaSarre, December 2009. As PCGS XF40 #46767233. "The Sydney F. Martin Collection," Stack's Bowers, August 24, 2023, Lot 8427 - $1,740. RR-31. 129.8 grains. |
#3 PCGS XF40
RR-31. |
#6 PCGS VF35
"The Sydney F. Martin Collection," Stack's Bowers, August 23, 2024, Lot 6159 - $2,400. RR-31. |
#7 PCGS VF30
"The Siesta Key Collection," Heritage Auctions, August 31, 2025, Lot 3607 - $3,960; "The Sean Ryan Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). RR-31. |
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#7 PCGS VF30
RR-31. |
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#7 PCGS VF30
RR-31. |
The 1788 Vermont Copper, GEORGIVS III REX, RR-31
The RR-31 (#687737) is a product of Machin's Mills and displays the inscription of GEORGIVS III REX instead of theauthorized VERMON AUCTORI found on other Vermont Bust coppers. The muling of the two motifs is intersting, considering that the Independence and Liberty referenced on the reverse is Independence from the British Crown and the Liberty that the crown denied the citizens of the Vermont Republic. Practially speaking, Machin's Mills ran a thriving illicit operation striking counterfeit British halfpence. Coin-starved Americans made do with this ersatz coinage, so long as the pieces passed within reason in daily commerce.
While no Mint State survivors are known, attractive circulated examples exist, including a handsome PCGS AU53 that realized $4,880 at Stack's Bowers in June 2026. The piece displays rich rose-brown patina, with original pinkish-red mint color retained in the protected areas.
- Obverse: A Romanized bust of King George III facing right, featuring an ornamental cuirass. The legend reads GEORGIVS III REX; the initial G nearly touches the shoulder, while the final S touches the hair. Tooth-like denticles are well defined and remain partially visible along the entire border on well-centered examples.
- Reverse: Depicts a seated figure of Britannia. The inscription INDE+ ET · LIB+ wraps along the left and right borders. A ground line separates the figure from the exergue. The date is cramped and often appears incomplete.
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