1787 CT 1/2P Hercules Head Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Named for its distinctively muscular and boldly rendered portrait that early collectors associated with the classical hero Hercules, this 1787 Connecticut copper half penny displays one of the most recognizable obverse styles in the series. The "Hercules Head" designation reflects the die sinker's unusually powerful rendering of the laureate bust, with a thick neck, prominent jaw, and forceful features that contrast with the more refined portraits found on other Connecticut dies. Struck in copper at approximately 8 grams with a 28.5 mm diameter and plain edge, the obverse bears the standard AUCTORI CONNEC legend (abbreviating Auctoritate Connecticutensis — "By the Authority of Connecticut") alongside the bold portrait, while the reverse features a seated Liberty with an olive branch and the ET LIB INDE legend. Cataloged as Miller 6.2-M and related die marriages, with Whitman 2858 and PCGS #361, this variety is considered moderately scarce. Connecticut coppers were produced under contract from 1785 through 1788, with production attributed primarily to facilities operated by Abel Buell in New Haven and the Company for Coining Coppers at various locations. The Henry Miller reference system, analogous to Maris for New Jersey, provides the standard die-combination catalog for Connecticut coppers. The Hercules Head's vigorous artistic style makes it a visually striking addition to any Connecticut copper collection, and its nickname connects this piece of American state coinage to the classical imagery that permeated 18th-century art and political symbolism.

Rarity Notes

Moderately scarce.

Cross References

Miller 6.2-M and related; Whitman 2858