1788 CT 1/2P Draped Bust Left Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Representing the common bust style for the final year of Connecticut copper production, this 1788 half penny features a draped bust facing left on the obverse — the most frequently encountered portrait orientation for the 1788 date. The "draped bust" terminology distinguishes this portrait style from the "mailed bust" (armored) variants, with the drapery referring to flowing fabric over the shoulder rather than chain mail armor. Struck in copper at approximately 6.8 grams with a 28.5 mm diameter and plain edge, the obverse bears the AUCTORI CONNEC legend alongside the leftward-facing draped portrait, while the reverse features a seated Liberty with the ET LIB INDE legend. Cataloged as Miller 16-D and related die marriages, with Whitman 3200 and PCGS #409, this type is described as common for 1788 Connecticut coppers, making it an accessible entry point for collectors beginning to explore the series. Connecticut coppers were produced from 1785 through 1788, and the 1788 date marks the final year of production — the year Connecticut ratified the United States Constitution (January 9, 1788, making it the fifth state), which would eventually centralize coinage authority at the federal level. The relative commonality of the draped bust left type for 1788 indicates substantial production volume during the series' final year, with multiple die marriages documented in the Miller catalog, each representing a distinct pairing of individually engraved obverse and reverse dies.

Rarity Notes

Common for 1788 Connecticut coppers.

Cross References

Miller 16-D and related; Whitman 3200