1788 NJ 1/2P Fox Before Legend Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Distinguished by a small animal figure — identified by collectors as a fox — positioned before the obverse legend, this 1788 New Jersey copper half penny carries one of the more intriguing design anomalies in the series. The fox element, appearing in the obverse field in a position not seen on standard New Jersey dies, has sparked debate about whether it represents a deliberate design addition by the die sinker, a personal symbol or "signature" mark, or possibly a countermark added after striking. Struck in copper at 6.7 grams with a 29 mm diameter and plain edge, the coin otherwise follows the standard New Jersey design formula with a horse's head above a plow and NOVA CAESAREA on the obverse, paired with the state shield and E PLURIBUS UNUM on the reverse. Cataloged as Maris 68-v and Whitman 4935, with PCGS #524, the Fox Before Legend variety is classified as scarce. The fox element makes this one of the most visually distinctive varieties in the entire series, immediately identifiable even on well-circulated specimens where other diagnostic features may be difficult to discern. Animal-themed variety names — Fox, Deer Head, Serpent Head — form a beloved subcategory within New Jersey copper collecting, and the Fox Before Legend stands apart because the fox is an entirely separate design element rather than an artistic interpretation of the standard horse-head motif. This variety dates from the final year of New Jersey copper production, produced under private contract before the new federal Constitution centralized coinage authority.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Distinctive variety with the fox element.

Cross References

Maris 68-v; Whitman 4935