1786 Immunis Columbia - Eagle Reverse Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Pairing the Immunis Columbia obverse with an eagle reverse, this 1786 copper is cataloged as a variant of Crosby 14-Y (Whitman 5715) within the Confederatio experimental coinage. The Immunis Columbia obverse features seated Liberty declaring IMMUNIS COLUMBIA — "Columbia is Free" — in the classical Latin of the Founding generation. The eagle reverse presents one of the earliest iterations of the eagle motif on American coins, predating federal eagle designs adopted after 1792. This combination is among the more frequently encountered Confederatio-era pairings, though "frequent" is relative for a series where every specimen is very rare. The Confederatio coins (1785-1787) represent a period when multiple dies were created and combined in various pairings as proposals for national copper coinage under the Articles of Confederation. The systematic mixing of design elements — eagles, shields, seated Liberty, Immunis Columbia — suggests organized exploration of design options. Struck in copper, these pieces survive in very small numbers with the rough surfaces and irregular planchets typical of colonial-era private minting.

Rarity Notes

Very rare.

Cross References

Crosby 14-Y variant; Whitman 5715