Massachusetts Copper Coins (Official) (1787-1788)
Base
About This Coin
Massachusetts set up a state mint under an act of October 17, 1786 and struck cents and half cents dated 1787 and 1788. The designs, chosen by the Council in June 1787, show an Indian with a bow and arrow, a star and COMMONWEALTH, and an eagle with a shield marked CENT or HALF CENT and MASSACHUSETTS. Joshua Wetherle ran the mint; Joseph Callender cut most of the dies and Jacob Perkins some of those dated 1788. The accounts printed by Crosby show the mint spent more than the value of the coins it delivered. Hillyer Ryder's numbers identify the die pairs.
Specifications
Strike Types & Varieties(4)
1787 1/2C Massachusetts Half Cent
1787 Cent Massachusetts
1788 1/2C Massachusetts Half Cent
1788 Massachusetts Cent - No Period
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