Numismatic

1847 Hawaii Cent XF

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In 1847, the sovereign Kingdom of Hawaii issued its own copper coinage, featuring a portrait of King Kamehameha III on the obverse. This monarch ruled the island nation from 1825 to 1854, guiding Hawaii through a period of significant transition. The coin represents a fascinating chapter in Pacific history, bearing the denomination of one cent, expressed on the reverse in Hawaiian as 'HAPA HANERI', which translates to a hundredth part. This specific coin is identified as the 'Plain 4, 15 Berries' variety, a detail that delights numismatic researchers who study the minute differences in early die preparation. While the original mintage for these copper pieces reached 100,000, experts estimate that less than 10 percent of that original population survives today, making any remaining specimen a scarce survivor of Hawaii's independent monetary system. This example has survived in Extremely Fine condition, preserving the bold details of the king's portrait and the surrounding native inscriptions.