1786 NJ 1/2P Date Under Draw Bar Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Identified by the positioning of the date beneath the draw bar of the plow on the obverse, this 1786 New Jersey copper half penny represents a distinctive die layout where the engraver placed the date in an unusual position relative to the agricultural implement that dominates the obverse design. The "draw bar" is the horizontal beam extending from the plow body, and on this die the date numerals appear below it rather than in the more standard positions seen on other dies. Struck in copper at 6.7 grams with a 29 mm diameter and plain edge, the obverse bears the NOVA CAESAREA legend with the horse's head above the plow and the date in its distinctive under-draw-bar position, while the reverse displays the state shield with E PLURIBUS UNUM. Cataloged as Maris 7-D and Whitman 4710, with PCGS #492, this variety is classified as scarce. The date-under-draw-bar layout is one of several date positioning varieties documented in the 1786 New Jersey copper series, each reflecting a different die sinker's approach to arranging the design elements within the available space. As a first-year-of-production issue, the 1786 date carries inherent collector interest, and the distinctive date placement makes this variety immediately identifiable once the diagnostic is understood. The early Maris number (7-D) positions this die combination near the beginning of the cataloged series, consistent with its place among the earliest New Jersey copper products struck under the legislative authorization of June 1786.

Rarity Notes

Scarce variety.

Cross References

Maris 7-D; Whitman 4710