1787 Immunis Columbia Eagle Reverse - Plain Edge Broad Flan Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Struck on an oversized planchet giving wider margins and greater visual presence, this 1787 Immunis Columbia copper with eagle reverse and plain edge is cataloged as Whitman 5765. The broad flan results from copper blanks exceeding intended specifications, creating more open space between design elements and the rim. In colonial coinage, where planchet standards varied considerably, broad flan varieties occur when larger-than-standard blanks were fed into the press. The 1787 date places this a year after the main Confederatio-era experimental coppers, suggesting continued production or a separate event. The Immunis Columbia obverse proclaims "Columbia is Free" with seated Liberty; the eagle reverse presents the emerging national symbol. The plain edge distinguishes this from lettered or ornamented edge versions. Broad flan examples are rarer than standard-sized specimens because oversize planchets represent a deviation from typical production. Colonial specialists prize broad flan varieties for their visual distinctiveness and the additional rim space that often preserves design details at the periphery.

Rarity Notes

Rare. The broad flan variant is scarcer than the standard plain edge.

Cross References

Whitman 5765