1786 NJ 1/2P No Coulter Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Distinguished by the conspicuous absence of the coulter — the vertical cutting blade normally depicted in front of the plowshare — on its obverse die, this 1786 New Jersey copper half penny offers a notable design variation from the standard plow configuration. The standard New Jersey copper obverse depicts a horse's head above a plow complete with coulter, plowshare, and other agricultural implements, all beneath the legend NOVA CAESAREA (Latin for "New Jersey") and the date. On this variety, the die sinker either deliberately omitted the coulter or failed to include it, creating a visually distinct plow that experienced collectors can identify at a glance. Struck in copper at approximately 6.7 grams with a 29 mm diameter and plain edge, the coin is cataloged as Maris 14-J and Whitman 4740, with classification as moderately scarce. As one of the earliest New Jersey copper varieties — reflected in its low Maris number — the No Coulter type dates from the first year of production under the legislative authorization of June 1786. The plow design on New Jersey coppers symbolized the state's agricultural character, and the various renderings of this implement across different dies — with and without coulter, with different proportions, and with varying degrees of detail — constitute an informal catalog of how multiple die sinkers working under the same contract interpreted the agricultural motif. The No Coulter variety's clear diagnostic feature makes it one of the most readily identifiable New Jersey copper varieties for collectors learning to navigate the Maris classification system.

Rarity Notes

Moderately scarce. One of the earliest New Jersey copper varieties.

Cross References

Maris 14-J; Whitman 4740