1766 Half Penny William Pitt - Copper

Coin Details

Auction Record

$26,450 MS64 01-01-2007 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1766 William Pitt Half Penny in copper is the larger denomination in the Pitt Token series, honoring William Pitt the Elder for his defense of American colonial rights against the Stamp Act. The obverse features a well-executed bust of Pitt facing right, with a legend identifying him and acknowledging his role in the repeal of the Stamp Act, while the reverse displays a ship under sail, representing the commercial freedom that Pitt championed by opposing Parliament's attempt to tax colonial trade. The half penny denomination, at approximately 28mm in diameter, provided a larger canvas for the design than the farthing and is generally considered the primary denomination of the series. Struck in copper, the token would have circulated alongside legitimate British halfpennies and colonial coppers in the diverse monetary environment of 1760s America. The year 1766 was a moment of celebration in the colonies: the Stamp Act had been repealed in March after massive colonial resistance including boycotts, riots, and the Stamp Act Congress. Pitt's parliamentary speeches against the act had been reprinted in colonial newspapers and read aloud in public gatherings, making him the most popular British politician in America. These tokens channeled that enthusiasm into a tangible, pocket-sized tribute. The copper half penny is the most commonly encountered piece in the Pitt Token series and serves as the standard type coin for this important political token series.

Rarity Notes

Scarce but the most available denomination and metal in the Pitt Token series. A good representative type coin for colonial political tokens.

Cross References

PCGS #236; NGC #108122; Breen 253; cf. PCGS #239 (Silvered), PCGS #250 (Tin), PCGS #232 (Farthing Copper)