1786 NJ 1/2P Bridle Half Penny

Coin Details

Auction Record

$14,100 • VF25 • 01-2014 • Heritage Auctions

Description

Named for the prominent bridle visible on the horse's head in the obverse design, the 1786 New Jersey copper halfpenny cataloged as Maris 23-Q and Whitman 4785 is one of the key varieties in the New Jersey copper series. Struck in copper, weighing 6.7 grams with a 29 mm diameter and plain edge, it is identified as PCGS #501 and carries a rarity rating of R-5 (31 to 75 known). An auction record of $14,100 for a VF25 specimen at Heritage Auctions in January 2014 provides a market benchmark that reflects both the variety's scarcity and the strong collector demand for named New Jersey copper varieties. The obverse features a horse's head and plow with the legend NOVA CAESAREA (New Jersey's Latin name), while the reverse displays a heraldic shield with the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM — notably predating the adoption of this motto on federal coinage. New Jersey authorized copper coinage in 1786, contracting production to Walter Mould, Thomas Godsbye, and Albion Cox, who operated coining facilities that produced a remarkable diversity of die varieties documented in the Maris numbering system. The "Bridle" designation refers to a specific obverse die where the horse appears to wear a bridle or harness, distinguishing it from the more common unbridled horse head designs used on other die combinations. The Maris 23-Q die marriage pairs this distinctive obverse with reverse die Q, and the combination's R-5 rarity makes it a challenging but not impossible acquisition for dedicated New Jersey copper specialists.

Rarity Notes

Rare. R-5. One of the key varieties in the New Jersey copper series.

Cross References

Maris 23-Q; Whitman 4785