1786 CT 1/2P Large Head Right Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Representing a distinct die sinker's work within the Connecticut copper series, this 1786 half penny features a large head facing right on the obverse — a substantially more prominent portrait than the small head varieties of the same year. Cataloged as Miller 2.1-D, 2.2-D, and related die combinations, with Whitman number 2480, the large head right type belongs to the earliest year of Connecticut's copper coinage following the state legislature's October 1785 authorization. The enlarged portrait commands more of the obverse field, projecting a bolder presence that reflects either a different die sinker's aesthetic preferences or an intentional design variation. Connecticut's 1786 coppers represent the inaugural production year, and the variety of portrait styles — including both large and small heads in both left and right orientations — demonstrates that multiple die sinkers were simultaneously preparing dies for the coinage contractors from the program's inception. The reverse carries the standard seated Liberty with INDE ET LIB (Independence and Liberty). Struck in copper, the coin follows the standard Connecticut halfpenny specifications. Cataloged as PCGS #various. Classified as scarce, the large head right 1786 type is distinguished from contemporaneous issues by the portrait's scale and orientation. The Miller reference system identifies multiple die combinations sharing this obverse type (2.1-D, 2.2-D, and others), indicating that the large head right obverse die was paired with more than one reverse die during production, a common practice in the Connecticut series where obverse and reverse dies were mixed and matched as operational needs demanded.

Rarity Notes

Scarce.

Cross References

Miller 2.1-D, 2.2-D, and related; Whitman 2480