(1688) American Plantation Token 1/24 Real - HB

Coin Details

Auction Record

$8,813 • AU58 NGC • 05-2014 • Heritage Auctions

Description

Representing the earliest die combination in the American Plantation Token series, this HB variety pairs Newman obverse 1 with reverse die A — cataloged as W-1130, Newman 1-A, and Breen 77. Rated R.7 with approximately 15-20 known specimens, this is among the rarest varieties of the earliest tokens authorized for American colonial circulation. The "HB" designation likely refers to initials present on the die, though their precise significance continues to be debated among colonial numismatic scholars. Struck in tin (97.5% tin, 2.5% brass), the token weighs 9.07 grams and measures 28.9 mm in diameter with an ornamented edge — specifications documented in part by an auction record of $8,813 for an AU58 NGC specimen at Heritage Auctions in May 2014. The American Plantation Tokens were authorized by James II around 1688 for circulation in the English American colonies, denominated as 1/24 of a Spanish real — tying them to the Spanish monetary system that dominated colonial commerce throughout the Western Hemisphere. The tin composition was deliberately chosen as a base metal appropriate for the token's low denomination, and the ornamented edge added a decorative element that also served to deter shaving or counterfeiting. This piece belongs to the Pre-1776 Private and Regional Issues (1616-1766) series and holds foundational importance as one of the earliest specifically authorized pieces in the narrative of American monetary history.

Rarity Notes

R.7. Approximately 15-20 known. Earliest die combination in the series.

Cross References

W-1130, Newman 1-A, Breen 77