Heritage Early Copper and Colonial Coin Auction Tops $436,000

Heritage Auctions realized $436,092 in its mid-July Early Copper & Colonial U.S. Coins Showcase Auction, led by a pair of early American cents that each brought $6,100.

The sale featured rare U.S. large cents, half cents and Colonial coins from the early years of American coinage.

A 1799/8 Draped Bust large cent graded PCGS Poor 1 shared top-lot honors. Attributed as Sheldon-188, Breen-2 and rated R.4, the overdate is among the most sought-after varieties in the series. The low-grade example represents Breen Die State IV, identified by a prominent die break extending through “RTY” in “LIBERTY.”

Also realizing $6,100 was a 1793 Chain cent with the AMERICA reverse, attributed as Sheldon-2 and certified PCGS Genuine, Good Details.

Chain cents were among the first coins issued by the United States Mint after it began operations in Philadelphia in 1793. Their interconnected-chain reverse makes them one of the most recognizable types from the earliest period of federal coinage.

Early Half Cents and Colonial Copper

A 1795 half cent with the Plain Edge, No Pole design brought $5,856. The thin-planchet Cohen-5a variety was graded PCGS XF40 and approved by CAC.

Among the leading Colonial issues, a 1786 Vermont copper realized $4,392. The VERMONTENSIUM, Ryder Richardson-6 variety was certified NGC XF40 Brown. Vermont coppers were produced during the Confederation era, before Vermont entered the Union in 1791, and remain widely collected alongside early federal copper coinage.

Two 1794 coins each sold for $3,904. One was a Normal Head half cent with Small Edge Letters, attributed as Cohen-2a and graded PCGS VF35. The other was a 1794 large cent featuring the Head of 1795 design. Attributed as Sheldon-69, it was certified PCGS Genuine, AU Details.

The results reflected continued interest in the numerous die varieties, design changes and production differences that characterized American copper coinage during the late 18th century.

Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Munich, Geneva, Hong Kong and Tokyo.