(1785) Bronze Token "USA" Bar Copper

Coin Details

Auction Record

$25,200 • AU58 • 01-2018 • Heritage Auctions

Description

Universally recognized as one of the most iconic pieces in early American numismatics, the Bar Copper — also known as the Bar Cent — features a boldly simple design unlike anything else in the colonial and Confederation-era token series. The obverse presents thirteen horizontal bars representing the thirteen original states, stacked vertically to fill the entire field, while the reverse displays an interlocking USA monogram rendered in large capital letters. Dated circa 1785 by numismatic convention, the Bar Copper's actual origin remains undocumented — no contemporary records identify its maker, issuing authority, or intended purpose, though its patriotic symbolism strongly suggests production during the early years of American independence. Struck in copper and cataloged as Whitman 8100 and Breen 1010, this token occupies a unique position as both a numismatic collectible and an artifact of American political symbolism, with its thirteen-bar motif echoing the stripes of the national flag and its bold USA monogram asserting national identity during a period when the young republic was still defining its visual symbols. Classified as scarce, the Bar Copper's combination of elegant minimalist design, mysterious provenance, and powerful patriotic imagery makes it one of the most widely reproduced images in numismatic literature and a cornerstone piece for collections of early American tokens. Some researchers have proposed English manufacture based on the piece's style and metallic composition, suggesting it may have been produced as a speculative commercial issue intended for circulation in the American states.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. One of the most iconic early American tokens.

Cross References

Whitman 8100; Breen 1010