1787 NJ White Metal Above Plow Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Featuring Walter Mould's "WM" initials positioned above the plow on the obverse, this 1787 New Jersey copper represents one of several die varieties where the authorized coiner embedded his personal mark directly into the coin's design. Cataloged as Maris 30-L and related die marriages with Whitman 4805, this moderately scarce variety differs from other WM Above Plow types in its specific die combination and detailed design characteristics. The repeated use of the WM initials across multiple die marriages throughout the New Jersey series confirms Walter Mould's active and sustained role in the coin production process — he was not merely a contract holder but a hands-on participant whose personal marks appear on numerous working dies. Mould, along with Thomas Goadsby and Albion Cox, received the New Jersey state contract to produce copper halfpence, and the three partners operated their coining facility primarily at Rahway, New Jersey. The obverse shows the standard plow design with "NOVA CAESAREA" and the date 1787, with Mould's initials visible above the plow, while the reverse carries the state shield design with "E PLURIBUS UNUM." This piece belongs to the Post-1776 States Coinage (1776-1788) series. The WM Above Plow varieties collectively form an important subgroup for scholars studying the organizational structure of New Jersey's state-authorized coinage, as the initials provide a direct physical link between specific dies and the individual responsible for their creation or supervision.

Rarity Notes

Moderately scarce.

Cross References

Maris 30-L and related; Whitman 4805