1787 NJ 17 Over 18 Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Displaying an apparent overdate where "17" appears to be punched over "18," this 1787 New Jersey copper presents one of the most curious die varieties in the colonial copper series. Cataloged as Maris 54-j and Whitman 4885, the seeming overdate is not a true overdate in the conventional sense — rather, die deterioration created the appearance of additional digits beneath the intended date, producing what looks like remnants of an "18" underlying the "17" of the date. This interpretation, consistent with the analysis applied to the similar 1787/1887 variety, means the effect is a product of die-life degradation rather than deliberate re-engraving of an existing date. Nevertheless, the visual appearance is striking and the variety has been collected and cataloged separately since colonial copper specialists first documented it. Scarce, this piece belongs to the Post-1776 States Coinage (1776-1788) series. The obverse carries the standard New Jersey plow design with "NOVA CAESAREA," and the reverse shows the state shield with "E PLURIBUS UNUM." These apparent overdates on New Jersey coppers are among the most debated varieties in the series because they require careful analysis to distinguish true re-engraved dates from die deterioration effects — a distinction that matters to attribution specialists but does not diminish the pieces' collectibility among enthusiasts who appreciate their unusual visual character.

Rarity Notes

Scarce.

Cross References

Maris 54-j; Whitman 4885