1787 CT 1/2P Mail Bust Rt - Muttonhead Half Penny

Coin Details

Auction Record

$18,000 • AU55 • 01-2009 • Heritage Auctions

Description

Cataloged as Miller 1.2-C, Whitman 2820, and PCGS #343, the 1787 Connecticut "Muttonhead" halfpenny is one of the most recognized and colorfully named varieties in all of American colonial numismatics. The nickname derives from the crude, rounded portrait style on the obverse, which collectors have long compared to the head of a sheep or mutton — a distinctly unflattering depiction of what is nominally a mailed (armored) bust facing right, intended to represent a royal or authority figure in the tradition of British halfpenny designs. Struck in copper, weighing 7 grams with a 28.5 mm diameter and plain edge, the Muttonhead is scarce but its popularity among collectors far exceeds its absolute rarity, driven by the memorable name and the folk-art quality of the portrait. Connecticut authorized copper coinage in 1785, granting the exclusive right to Samuel Bishop, Joseph Hopkins, James Hillhouse, and John Goodrich, who contracted with various die sinkers and minting operations to produce the coins. An auction record of $18,000 for an AU55 example at Heritage Auctions in January 2009 demonstrates the premium that the Muttonhead name and distinctive appearance command in the marketplace. The Miller reference system, established by Henry C. Miller and expanded by subsequent researchers, remains the standard die variety catalog for Connecticut coppers, with the 1.2-C designation identifying the specific obverse and reverse die combination for this variety.

Rarity Notes

Scarce but popular. One of the most recognized Connecticut copper varieties.

Cross References

Miller 1.2-C; Whitman 2820