1787 CT 1/2P Draped Bust Left Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

One of the most available types in the Connecticut copper series, the 1787 Draped Bust Left half penny features a portrait with flowing drapery over the shoulder facing left, paired with the AUCTORI CONNEC obverse legend and the standard seated Liberty reverse with ET LIB INDE. The "draped bust" style contrasts with the "mailed bust" armored portrait type, representing a more civilian or classical appearance that some die sinkers preferred when rendering the Connecticut copper obverse. Struck in copper at approximately 6.8 grams with a 28.5 mm diameter and plain edge, this type encompasses multiple die marriages cataloged under Miller 33.1-T.1 and many related combinations, with Whitman 2960 and PCGS #370. The common availability and multiple die marriages make this a natural first acquisition for collectors exploring Connecticut coppers, while the extensive roster of die combinations within this single type designation ensures that advanced collectors can pursue individual pairings for years. The 1787 date represents the most prolific year of Connecticut copper production, with the greatest diversity of die varieties reflecting maximum utilization of the coinage contract. Connecticut's legislature originally authorized copper coinage in October 1785, granting exclusive rights that were subsequently assigned to the Company for Coining Coppers. The draped bust portrait tradition draws on Greco-Roman classical models that 18th-century engravers studied through published pattern books and academic training, connecting these humble copper half pennies to the broader neoclassical aesthetic that permeated American art and architecture during the founding era.

Rarity Notes

Common for the series. Multiple die marriages available.

Cross References

Miller 33.1-T.1 and many related; Whitman 2960