1786 NJ 1/2P General Washington Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Among the most extraordinary pieces in the entire New Jersey copper series, this 1786 half penny breaks dramatically from the standard horse-head obverse by featuring a portrait that bears a striking resemblance to General George Washington. This highly unusual departure from the authorized design makes the General Washington variety not merely a die variety but a genuinely exceptional piece that intersects two major collecting specialties — New Jersey state coppers and Washington portraiture coinage. The portrait's connection to Washington transforms this coin into a crossover collectible with appeal far beyond the colonial copper specialist community. Cataloged as a Maris special variety with no standard Whitman listing, its position outside the normal cataloging framework reflects its exceptional nature within the series. The piece is considered extremely rare and ranks as one of the most important New Jersey copper varieties, commanding intense interest whenever examples appear at auction or in dealer inventories. New Jersey coppers were produced under private contract beginning in 1786, and the appearance of a Washington portrait — whether an authorized experiment, an unauthorized innovation by the die sinker, or a piece created for a specific purpose outside normal production — raises questions about the relationship between the contract coiners and broader political sentiments during the Confederation period, when Washington's image was already being associated with American sovereignty and leadership. The 1786 date places this piece among the earliest New Jersey copper issues, adding first-year-of-production significance to its already remarkable design distinction.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. One of the most important New Jersey copper varieties.

Cross References

Maris special; Whitman unlisted