AUCTORI CONNEC info?

[EasternShoreMetal]

Hi all;



I found this coin recently. It is obviously an 1787 Connecticut Copper.
I am mainly a history relic hunter in a fairly old East Coast town. I find my share of coins, but am
not that well versed in numismatics. I am very happily learning as I go.
So forgive me if some of my questions seem a little stupid.

I have researched it, of course, and I know the quality is not the best, but there seems to be so many types, can anyone
help me with that ? Also, they are called "coppers" but I could not find if this is considered a half-penny ?
I was very excited to find it, and do not sell my finds, but I am interested in any value ideas as well..

Any other info you can add to my very limited knowledge of this specific individual coin would be greatly appreciated.
I have read the basics about post Rev. War, pre-federal issues.

If the pics are hard to make out, It says AUCTORI CONNEC on the obverse - "by Authority of Connecticut"
and INDIE ET LIB on the reverse "Independence and Liberty. date is fairly clear but planchette is rough.
I can send larger photos if needed.

Thanks !

 

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[coachbedford]

You're right-- there are many varieties of Connecticut coppers,some of which turn on something as simple as to whether there is one asterik after a letter in the legend, or two. Not sure what your variety is, but just by general look, seems to be a fairly common type. Your coin isn't worn so much as corroded....it appears to bhave been in really nice shape when it was lost.

 

[EasternShoreMetal]

You're right-- there are many varieties of Connecticut coppers,some of which turn on something as simple as to whether there is one asterik after a letter in the legend, or two. Not sure what your variety is, but just by general look, seems to be a fairly common type. Your coin isn't worn so much as corroded....it appears to bhave been in really nice shape when it was lost.

Thanks, I agree. I think the metals reacted pretty aggressively here. I know they had so many varieties it's daunting. Plus, I think it's the red book that states the conn. planchettes were generally of inferior quality to the earlier coppers. Was it a half Penny ? I get generally better shape from better made coppers.
But I'm tickled with it, because though it's pretty rough, I can see the date. And historically, the New England coin made it to Maryland for trade before the federal releases. So, for that relatively short period between the Rev. war and the Federal coinage, the then, New Americans fended for themselves to keep the wheels turning. What a great history we share.

 

[coachbedford]

These Connecticut coins are officially just "coppers" but may have been valued as 'cents'....they are actually heavier than the british halfpennies. The Mass. coins of 1787-88 are officially "CENTS"

 

[EasternShoreMetal]

These Connecticut coins are officially just "coppers" but may have been valued as 'cents'....they are actually heavier than the british halfpennies. The Mass. coins of 1787-88 are officially "CENTS"

OK that makes sense.. I couldn't figure out why I was having a hard time finding which it was. THANKS !

 

[Iron Patch]

http://www.coinfacts.com/colonial_coins/connecticut_coppers/ConnecticutCoppers.htm

1787 VARIETIES (241)​
	Miller #		Rarity	Notes
	Miller 1.1-A	R-3	Scarce	Mailed Bust Right
	Miller 1.1-VV	R-6	Very Rare	Mailed Bust Right
	Miller 1.2-C	R-3	Scarce	"Muttonhead"
	Miller 1.2-mm	R-7	Extremely Rare	"Muttonhead"
	Miller 1.3-L	R-6	~ 25 known	Mailed Bust Left
	Miller 2-B	R-3	Scarce	Mailed Bust Left
	Miller 3-G.1	R-6	~ 25 known	Mailed Bust Left
	Miller 4-L	R-1	Very Common	"Horned Bust"
	Miller 5-P	R-6	~ 25 known	Mailed Bust Left
	Miller 6.1-M	R-1	Very Common	"Laughing Head"​
	Miller 6.2-M	R-4	Very Scarce	"Laughing Head"
	Miller 7-I	R-6	~ 22 known	"Hercules Head"
	Miller 8-N	R-5+	~ 40 known	Mailed Bust Left
	Miller 8-O	R-3	Scarce	Mailed Bust Left
	Miller 9-D	R-5+	~ 40-45 known	Mailed Bust Left
	Miller 9-E	R-5+	~ 31 known	Mailed Bust Left
	Miller 9-R	R-4+	Very Scarce	"1787/8"
	Miller 10-E	R-5+	~ 50 known	Mailed Bust Left​
	Miller 11.1-E	R-2	Common	Mailed Bust Left
	Miller 11.2-K	R-3	Scarce	Mailed Bust Left
	Miller 11.3-K		2 known?	Mailed Bust Left
	Miller 12-Q	R-3	Scarce	Mailed Bust Left
	Miller 13-D	R-2	Common	Mailed Bust Left
	Miller 14-H	R-3	Scarce	Mailed Bust Left
	Miller 15-F	R-3	Scarce	Mailed Bust Left
	Miller 15-R	R-7	Extremely Rare	"1787/88"
	Miller 15-S	R-6-	~ 30 known	"INDL ET LIB"
	Miller 16.1-m	R-5+	~ 60 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 16.2-NN.1	R-5+	~ 40-45 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 16.2-NN.2	R-8	2 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 16.3-l.2	R-7+	~ 6 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 16.4-n	R-6+	~ 14 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 16.5-n	R-6	~ 25 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 16.5-p	R-7	~ 10 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 16.6-NN.2	R-5+	~ 30-35 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 17-g.3	R-4-	Very Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 18-g.1	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 19-g.4	R-3	Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 20-a.2	R-5	~ 45 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 21-DD	R-5	~ 45-50 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 22-c	--	Untraced	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 22-g.2	R-6	~ 30 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 23-hh.2	R-7	Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 24-g.3	R-6	~ 25 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 24-g.5	R-5+	~ 35 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 24-FF	R-6	~ 20 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 25-b	R-3	Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 25-m	R-5+	~ 35 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 26-a.1	R-6+	~ 20 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 26-kk.1	R-5	~ 40 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 26-AA	R-5	~ 50 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 27-a.1	R-5	~ 40 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 28-m	R-5+	~ 35-40 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 28-n	R-6+	~ 15 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 28-o	R-6	~ 25-30 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 29.1-a.2	R-6+	~ 16 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 29.1-n	R-6	~ 23 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 29.1-p	R-5+	~ 40 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 29.2-N	R-6+	~ 21 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 29.2-o	R-5+	~ 35 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 30-X.1	R-6	~ 21 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 30-hh.1	R-2	Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 31.1-r.4	R-2	Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 31.1-gg.1	R-3	Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 31.2-r.3	R-1	Very Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 32.1-X.3	R-3+	Scarce-Very Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 32.2-X.1	R-3	Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 32.2-X.2	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 32.2-X.4	R-5+	Rare-Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 32.3-X.4	R-2	Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 32.4-F	R-6+	~ 17 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 32.4-X.5	R-5+	~ 40-45 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 32.4-Z.3	R-5+	~ 30-35 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 32.4-Z.20	R-8	2 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 32.5-aa	R-4	Very Scarce	"INDE/FNDE"
	Miller 32.6-X.6	R-6+	~ <20 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 32.7-X.1	R-5+	~ 30-35 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 32.8-aa	R-6	~ 20-25 known	"INDE/FUDE"
	Miller 33.1-Z.13	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.1-Z.19	R-5+	~ 30-35 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.2-Z.5	R-1	Very Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.2-Z.12	R-1	Very Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.2-Z.17	R-6	~ 24 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.2-Z.21	R-6	~ 24 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.2-Z.22	R-6	~ 24 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.3-W.1	R-4+	>75 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.4-Z.2	R-7	~ 11 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.4-q	R-6	~ 48 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.5-T.2	R-5+	>50 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.6-KK	R-2	Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.7-r		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.7-r.2		Very Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.7-r.4	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.8-Z.13	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left​
	Miller 33.8-Z.19	R-6+	~ 17 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.9-s.2		Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.10-W.6		3 known?	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.10-Z.7		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.10-Z.8	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.11-Z.18	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.11-gg.1	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.12-W.3		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.12-Z.16		Very Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.12-Z.21		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.12-Z.24		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.13-Z.1	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.13-Z.6	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.13-Z.7	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.13-q		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.13-ff.1		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.13-hh.2		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.14-Z.14	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.15-r.1		Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.16-T.2		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.16-Z.15	R-3	Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.16-l.2	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.17-r.1		Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.17-r.5		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.17-gg.2	R-3	Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.18-Z.24		3 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.19-Z.1		Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.19-Z.2	R-3	Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.19-Z.4		Unique	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.19-q		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.20-Z.9	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.20-Z.11		2 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.21-Z.13		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.21-k.4		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.21-EE		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.23-Z.4		Very Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.23-hh.2	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.24-Z.4		Very Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.24-Z.10		2 known?	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.25-W.3		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.25-Z.10	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.25-Z.24	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.26-W.3		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.26-W.5		2 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.27-r.4	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.28-Z.11	R-5	Rare	"Snipe Nose"
	Miller 33.28-Z.16		Very Scarce	"Snipe Nose"
	Miller 33.29-Z.7	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.29-Z.25		2 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.29-gg.1	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.30-EE		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.30-SS		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.31-gg.2	R-6	Very Rare​	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.32-Z.13		Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.33-Z.3	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.33-Z.11	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.34-W.2	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.34-Z.3	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.34-Z.11	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.35-Z.9		2 known?	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.36-T.1	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.36-T.2		Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.36-T.3		Unique	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.36-SS		3 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.37-Z.9		Very Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.38-Z.1	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.38-Z.6	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.38-Z.23	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.38-gg.1	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.39-Z.13		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.39-Z.20		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.39-s.1		Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.40-Z.1	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.40-Z.2		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.41-Z.11		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.42-Z.2		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.43-q	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.43-hh.2	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.44-W.3	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.45-W.2	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.46-Z.21		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.47-TT		2 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 33.48-Z.25		2 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 34-ff.1		Very Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 34-k.3		3 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 36-l.1	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 36-k.3	R-7+	3-4 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 36-ff.2	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.1-cc.1		Very Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.2-k.5	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.3-i	R-3	Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.4-k.1	R-3	Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.5-e	R-3	Scarce	Draped Bust Left​
	Miller 37.6-B		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.6-k.4	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.7-h.2	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.8-k.2	R-3	Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.8-HH	R-5	Rare​	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.8-LL	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.9-e	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.10-RR	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.11-ff.2	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.12-LL		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.12-TT	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.13-HH	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.14-cc.2	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 37.15-h.3		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 38-l.2		Very Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 38-GG	R-3	Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 39.1-h.1	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 39.1-ff.2	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 39.2-ee	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 40-N	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 40-kk.1	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 41-ii		Very Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 42-o		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 42-kk.2		Very Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 43.1-Y		Common	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 43.2-X.4	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 44-W.4		Very Scarce	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 44-W.5		Extremely Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 44-Z.10	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 45-CC	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 46-BB	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 47-a.3	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 48-g.5	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 48-k.3		2 known	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 49.1-Z.1		Extremely Rare	INDE: corrected from INDN:
	Miller 49.2-Z.26	R-10	Unique	INDE: corrected from INDN:
	Miller 49.2-Z.27	R-10	Unique	Discovered in 2005
	Miller 50-F	R-6	Very Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 52-G.1		Extremely Rare	Mailed Bust Right
	Miller 52-G.2		Unique	Mailed Bust Right
	Miller 53-FF	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 56-BB	R-5	Rare	Draped Bust Left
	Miller 56-XX	R-7	5-6 known	Draped Bust Left

 

[l.cutler]

Attributing Connecticuts can be tricky and time consuming, as evidenced by the number of 1787 varieties in the list posted by Iron Patch! There may be enough detail in hand to ID it, but from the photos the necessary lettering and punctuation just isn't visible.

 

[EasternShoreMetal]

Attributing Connecticuts can be tricky and time consuming, as evidenced by the number of 1787 varieties in the list posted by Iron Patch! There may be enough detail in hand to ID it, but from the photos the necessary lettering and punctuation just isn't visible.

Thanks, that was my problem too, details way too toasted.