1772 1772' 1/2P Machin's Mills - IUS Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Identified as Vlack 3-72A and Whitman 7630, this 1772-dated Machin's Mills copper halfpenny features the IUS reverse legend — another variant rendering of the British halfpenny inscription that differs from the IVS legend found on other Machin's Mills reverse dies. The distinction between IUS and IVS reflects different die sinkers or different cutting sessions producing separate reverse dies, each introducing their own interpretation of the Latin text from the genuine British model. Produced circa 1787-1790 at Thomas Machin's private mint along Moodna Creek near Newburgh, New York, the piece imitates a George III halfpenny with a backdated 1772 date chosen to give it the appearance of a British colonial-era coin. Struck in copper, weighing approximately 7.5 grams with a 28 mm diameter and plain edge. Cataloged as PCGS #929. Classified as moderately scarce, the Vlack 3-72A die combination documents one specific pairing among the numerous die combinations produced at Machin's facility. The IUS versus IVS distinction illustrates the level of granular detail that Machin's Mills specialists track — subtle differences in reverse legend abbreviations that identify individual dies and allow researchers to reconstruct the die usage patterns and production sequences at the Newburgh mint. For collectors, these legend variants add depth to the Machin's Mills series beyond the basic date and portrait classifications, rewarding careful examination of each piece's inscriptions.

Rarity Notes

Moderately scarce.

Cross References

Vlack 3-72A; Whitman 7630