1787 VT 1/2P Britannia, BN (Regular Strike)
Series: U.S. Colonial Issues
PCGS AU58BN
PCGS AU53BN
PCGS AU53BN
- PCGS #:
- 554
- Designer:
- N/A
- Edge:
- N/A
- Diameter:
- N/A
- Weight:
- N/A
- Mintage:
- N/A
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- Other
- Auction Record:
- $10,925 • CH AU • 09-19-2006 • Stack's
Major Varieties
- 1787 VT 1/2P Britannia, BN
Condition Census What Is This?
| #1 PCGS MS60BN |
|
#2 PCGS AU58
Lawrence R. Stack, November 2006. As PCGS AU58 #46767183. "The Sydney F. Martin Collection," Stack's Bowers, August 24, 2023, Lot 8396 - $5,040. RR-13. 109.2 grains. |
|
#2 PCGS AU58
RR-13. |
|
#4 PCGS AU55
Bowers and Merena's, March 1993, Lot 5080; Ron Guth. As PCGS AU55 #04738177. Stack's, June 2004, Lot 2025; "The Ross Family Collection," Stack's Bowers, November 26, 2024, Lot 1297 - $1,140. RR-13. |
| #4 PCGS AU55 |
|
#4 PCGS AU55
Heritage Auctions, January 2003, Lot 5066; Heritage Auctions, May 30, 2012, Lot 3020 - $1,610; Stack's Bowers, August 20, 2019, Lot 519 - $1,135; "The SHS-USA - Early Amer Basic Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). RR-13. |
|
#4 PCGS AU55
Heritage Auctions, November 2004, Lot 5027. As PCGS AU50. "The Drew St. John Sale Collection," American Numismatics Rarities, June 2005, Lot 1039 - $1,610. As PCGS AU55 #22020544. "The Liberty Collection of U.S. Colonial Coins, Part Three," Heritage Auctions, May 28, 2008, Lot 1969 - $1,725; Heritage Auctions, April 1, 2009, Lot 965 - $1,495. RR-13. |
|
#4 PCGS AU55
RR-13. |
|
#4 PCGS AU55
RR-13. |
|
#4 PCGS AU55
RR-13. |
|
#4 PCGS AU55
RR-13. |
|
#12 PCGS AU53
John Agre and Dave Wnuck, September 26, 2009. As PCGS AU53 #14137676. "The Sydney F. Martin Collection," Stack's Bowers, August 23, 2024, Lot 6150 - $1,680. RR-13. |
|
#12 PCGS AU53
"The E Pluribus Unum Collection," Stack's Bowers, November 18, 2020, Lot 4200 - $1,020; "The RUATWINCOIN Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). RR-13. 107.8 grains. |
#14 PCGS XF45
"The Richard August Collection," Stack's Bowers, November 18, 2025, Lot 1415 - $930. RR-13. 117.2 grains. |
#15 PCGS XF40
"The Dr. Robert I. Hinkley Collection," Bowers and Merena, December 2001, Lot 2435; As PCGS XF40 #46767184. "The Sydney F. Martin Collection," Stack's Bowers, August 24, 2023, Lot 8397 - $960. R-13. 134.2 grains. |
#15 PCGS XF40
"The E Pluribus Unum Collection," Stack's Bowers, November 18, 2020, Lot 4202 - $960. RR-13. 119 grains. |
#17 PCGS VF30
"The Q. David Bowers Collection," Stack's Bowers, June 23, 2020, Lot 212 - $660. RR-13. |
#17 PCGS VF30
"The C.B. Slade, Jr. Estate Collection," Stack's, June 2010, Lot 2062; "The Robert M. Martin Collection," Stack's Bowers, November 18, 2019, Lot 5344 - $312. RR-13. 108.68 grains. |
The 1787 Vermont Copper, Britannia, RR-13
The RR-13 (#800830) pairs a new right-facing bust of King George II with a counterfeit halfpenny reverse die created and put into use by the coiners at Machin's Mills. Facing a shortage of official realm coinage, Americans were not bothered by the circulation of spurious imitations, so long as they were struck on good copper and within reasonable weight thresholds. The RR-13 is one of the most common Vermont coppers, though its planchet quality is typically poor and the reverse die was well-worn from prior use. PCGS has certified only one example in Mint State, along with several exhibiting light wear in the AU range.
The RR-13's Five Die States
Starting with perfect dies and concluding with a series of cracks and a die lump in the field below the chin, the RR-13 - one of the most common Vermont coppers - is known to exist in five die states. In Die State III, a diagonal die crack runs up from George's neck to his upper cheek. The typical example weighs between 100 to 110 grains, but lighter and heavier pieces are known.
- Obverse: A right-facing Romanized bust portrait of George II (1683–1760), made to resemble the designs of English coppers at the time. Instead of the traditional English legend GEORGIUS II REX, the inscription reads: VERMON AUCTORI.
- Reverse: Borrowing again from British coinage, the reverse depicts a seated Britannia. The legend BRITAN NIA wraps along the left and right border. The date 1787 appears in the exergue.
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