1787 NJ 1/2P Sprig Above Plow Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Distinguished by a sprig or plant motif positioned above the plow on the obverse, this 1787 New Jersey copper introduces a decorative element whose purpose remains undocumented — it may serve as a die sinker's personal flourish, a symbolic reference to New Jersey's agrarian economy, or a covert mintmark identifying a specific die engraver or production facility. Cataloged as Maris 40-b and Whitman 4850, this scarce variety belongs to the Post-1776 States Coinage (1776-1788) series. The sprig adds a botanical element to the plow-centered obverse design that is unique among New Jersey copper varieties, making it immediately recognizable once the feature is known. The reverse carries the standard New Jersey shield design with "E PLURIBUS UNUM." New Jersey coppers were authorized by the state legislature and produced under contract, with multiple die sinkers working independently to produce the obverse and reverse dies used in production. The resulting variety of design interpretations — some featuring unique elements like this sprig — gives the New Jersey series its extraordinary depth and has made it one of the most intensively studied areas in colonial American numismatics. The Maris reference, first published in 1881 by Edward Maris, established the die marriage classification system that remains in use today, and Maris 40-b designates this specific obverse die (40) paired with this specific reverse die (b).

Rarity Notes

Scarce variety.

Cross References

Maris 40-b; Whitman 4850