1787 NJ 1/2P Large Plan - Plain Shield Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as Maris 32-T and Whitman 4820, this 1787 New Jersey copper half penny was struck on a large planchet — a noticeably oversized copper blank that gives the finished coin greater diameter and visual impact than the standard-sized New Jersey coppers. The reverse features a plain (unadorned) shield without the ornamental details found on some other reverse dies, creating a simpler heraldic presentation. The obverse displays the standard horse's head and plow design with NOVA CAESAREA (New Jersey's Latin name), while the reverse shows the shield with E PLURIBUS UNUM. New Jersey coppers of 1787 represent the second year of production under the state legislature's June 1786 authorization, with the coinage contractors continuing to produce pieces at various facilities. Struck in copper on the oversized planchet. Cataloged as PCGS #509. The rarity notes classify this as common for the series, making the Maris 32-T die combination one of the more accessible New Jersey copper varieties for collectors. The large planchet characteristic can result from several production factors: intentional use of larger blanks, variation in the planchet cutting equipment, or use of planchets originally intended for a different denomination. The plain shield is distinguishable from the lined or crosshatched shield variants by the absence of internal decoration, with the shield face appearing smooth beneath the E PLURIBUS UNUM motto. Dr. Edward Maris's 1881 reference established the 32-T designation for this die combination.

Rarity Notes

Common for the series.

Cross References

Maris 32-T; Whitman 4820