1787 NY 1/2P Excelsior - Transposed Arrows Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as Whitman 5775, this 1787 New York Excelsior copper half penny features the transposed arrows variety — where the arrows held by the eagle or heraldic figure on one side of the design are positioned in reverse or swapped orientation compared to the standard arrangement. The Excelsior coppers derive their name from New York's state motto "Excelsior" ("Ever Upward"), and the series features a standing eagle or heraldic device on the obverse with the state arms on the reverse. New York coppers of 1787 were produced during the Confederation period when the state, like several of its neighbors, explored private and semi-official copper coinage to address the chronic shortage of small change in everyday commerce. Struck in copper, the coin weighs approximately 8 grams with a 28 mm diameter and plain edge. Cataloged as PCGS #430. The rarity notes classify this as very rare, making it one of the more challenging New York Excelsior varieties to acquire. The transposed arrows error provides insight into the die sinker's working process — whether the reversal was intentional (perhaps copying from an impression or mirror-image source) or accidental, it produced a diagnostically distinct variety that collectors can readily identify. New York coppers as a series encompass several distinct types including the Excelsior, Non Vi Virtute Vici, Nova Eborac, and other issues, each reflecting different private coinage ventures operating in and around New York during the late 1780s.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. Transposed arrows variety.

Cross References

Whitman 5775