1786 VT 1/2P Baby Head Half Penny

Coin Details

Auction Record

$32,900 • VF25 • 11-2013 • Heritage Auctions

Description

Cataloged as RR-8 and Whitman 2225, the 1786 Vermont "Baby Head" halfpenny is one of the most famous and colorfully nicknamed varieties in all of American colonial numismatics. The obverse portrait — nominally a mailed bust in the tradition of British halfpenny designs — features a remarkably small, round-faced, childlike countenance that has earned this variety its unforgettable nickname, standing in vivid contrast to the standard mature bust and landscape designs used on other Vermont coppers of this period. Whether the infantile appearance was an intentional artistic choice, a consequence of the die sinker's limited skill, or simply the result of a worn or poorly cut die remains a subject of numismatic debate. The reverse displays the standard seated Liberty figure holding an olive branch and liberty pole with the legend INDE ET LIB (abbreviated from INDEPENDENTIA ET LIBERTAS, "Independence and Liberty"). Vermont authorized copper coinage in 1785 under a franchise granted to Reuben Harmon Jr. of Rupert, and the Baby Head emerged from the proliferation of die sinkers and minting contractors who produced Vermont coppers with widely varying levels of artistic competence. Rare and rated R-5 on the Sheldon rarity scale, the Baby Head is one of the most sought-after Vermont coppers, commanding significant premiums at auction driven by its memorable nickname, visually distinctive appearance, and status as a key variety in the Vermont copper series.

Rarity Notes

Rare. R-5. The "Baby Head" is one of the most sought-after Vermont coppers.

Cross References

RR-8; Whitman 2225