1787 VT 1/2P Britannia, BN
1787 VT 1/2P Bust Right, BN

1787 VT 1/2P Bust Left, BN (Regular Strike)

Series: U.S. Colonial Issues

PCGS VF35BN

PCGS VF35BN

PCGS VF20BN

PCGS VF20BN

PCGS VF20BN

PCGS VF20BN

PCGS #:
557
Designer:
N/A
Edge:
N/A
Diameter:
N/A
Weight:
N/A
Mintage:
N/A
Mint:
Philadelphia
Metal:
Other
Auction Record:
$41,400 • F12 • 01-12-2005 • Heritage Auctions
Major Varieties
  • 1787 VT 1/2P Bust Left, BN
Die Varieties

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos Grade Image Pedigree and History
1 PCGS VF35

RR-15.
2 PCGS VF20

As "Very Fair." "The Henry Phelps Collection," Lyman H. Low, March 30, 1908, lot 22 - $8.50; Hillyer C. Ryder; F.C.C. Boyd. As "F-15/VF-20." Bowers and Merena, November 20, 1991, Lot 95 - $8,525. As PCGS VF20 #42363935. Stack's Bowers, November 30, 2021, Lot 2119 - $23,400. RR-15. 105.9 grains.

 
2 PCGS VF20

Anthony Terranova, May 27, 2008; Q. David Bowers. As PCGS VF20 #37300224. "The Q. David Bowers Collection," Stack's Bowers, June 23, 2020, Lot 215 - $20,400. RR-15. Plated in Bowers' Colonial Coin Encyclopedia  (2009).
2 PCGS VF20

Hillyer Ryder; F.C.C. Boyd; John J. Ford, Jr. RR-15.
5 PCGS F12

As "Very Good." "The H.C. Whipple Collection," Thomas L. Elder, February 23, 1921, lot 435 - $5.25; unknown intermediaries; Eric P. Newman. As NGC #. "The Eric P. Newman Collection, Part IV," Heritage Auctions, May 2014, lot 30031. As PCGS F12 #46500089. "The Sydney F. Martin Collection," Stack's Bowers, August 24, 2023, Lot 8401 - $18,000. RR-15.
#1 PCGS VF35

RR-15.
#2 PCGS VF20

As "Very Fair." "The Henry Phelps Collection," Lyman H. Low, March 30, 1908, lot 22 - $8.50; Hillyer C. Ryder; F.C.C. Boyd. As "F-15/VF-20." Bowers and Merena, November 20, 1991, Lot 95 - $8,525. As PCGS VF20 #42363935. Stack's Bowers, November 30, 2021, Lot 2119 - $23,400. RR-15. 105.9 grains.

 
#2 PCGS VF20

Anthony Terranova, May 27, 2008; Q. David Bowers. As PCGS VF20 #37300224. "The Q. David Bowers Collection," Stack's Bowers, June 23, 2020, Lot 215 - $20,400. RR-15. Plated in Bowers' Colonial Coin Encyclopedia  (2009).
#2 PCGS VF20

Hillyer Ryder; F.C.C. Boyd; John J. Ford, Jr. RR-15.
#5 PCGS F12

As "Very Good." "The H.C. Whipple Collection," Thomas L. Elder, February 23, 1921, lot 435 - $5.25; unknown intermediaries; Eric P. Newman. As NGC #. "The Eric P. Newman Collection, Part IV," Heritage Auctions, May 2014, lot 30031. As PCGS F12 #46500089. "The Sydney F. Martin Collection," Stack's Bowers, August 24, 2023, Lot 8401 - $18,000. RR-15.
Ron Guth:

The 1787 Vermont Copper, Britannia, RR-15

The RR-15 (#800832) is the only bust-left 1787 Vermont copper. The obverse die first used on the 1786 RR-11 (#800850) returns, this time paired with a new reverse die unique to the RR-15. All known examples display a prominent die break at the bottom of the reverse that mostly obscures the date. The date is notable because the final 7 appears to have been punched over a 6, which would technically make this a 1787/6. Tony Carlotto speculates that this alteration weakened the die's lower periphery, causing it to break almost immediately after entering service; no examples without this break are known to exist. Abel Buell is widely credited with creating the design. Planchet quality is often poor, and few examples survive in grades above PCGS F12.

  • Obverse: A Romanized bust of King George II (1683–1760), based on designs from English copper coins of his reign. Instead of the traditional regal legend GEORGIUS II REX, the inscription on this bust-left variety reads VERMON: AUCTORI. This obverse die was also used to strike the RR-11 variety.
  • Reverse: Borrowing again from British coinage, the reverse depicts a seated Britannia. The legend INDE: ET LIB: wraps around the design. A pyramid of three dots appears to the left of Britannia's face. The date: 1786/7 is largely obscured by a die break.

* * *