Numismatic

1787 Connecticut Copper Horned Bust Facing Left XF

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In the era before the United States established a centralized federal mint, individual states issued their own copper coinage. Among the most fascinating of these early American issues is the 1787 Connecticut Copper, a coin that showcases the diverse and often quirky variations of early hand-engraved dies. This specific coin features the celebrated Horned Bust design on the obverse, where the figure faces toward the left. The nickname comes from a distinct die break or flaw that resembles a horn emerging from the bust. On the reverse, the coin depicts a draped figure of Liberty seated upon a small throne, holding a capped pole alongside an olive branch. Struck in copper with no mint mark, this piece of early American currency survives in an Extra Fine circulated state, offering a tangible connection to the post-Revolutionary period.