Learn About 1776 New Hampshire Copper Coins
New Hampshire was one of the very first states to consider and then create their own coinage in the year of our Independence – 1776. New Hampshire patriots grew tired of using British coinage, which was fairly plentiful in the New England states. On March 13th of that year, a joint committee of the New Hampshire legislature looked at the possibility of striking their own copper coinage.
William Moulton III, of Hampstead, NH, was a 3rd generation silversmith and was selected to design and create NH’s first coinage. The legislature authorized Moulton to do so and these copper coins would be similar in size and weight to the circulating British Halfpenny coppers – but they would be struck in New Hampshire by a New Hampshire patriot and they would bear the devices determined by the General Assembly of New Hampshire.
The Assembly determined that the obverse of the coin would display a pine tree and would have the words “AMERICAN LIBERTY” on the obverse. The reverse of the coin would bear a harp and the historic date “1776”. The law authorizing this New Hampshire copper was passed on June 28th – less than a week before the colonies declared their independence on July 4th.
While there are 4 additional variations of the New Hampshire Copper coin, they have all been exposed as contemporary to 1850s fantasy coins. The Guide Book of United States coins used to carry an additional version to that identified above. But that was shown to be a fantasy coin.
Numerous coins have been attributed as being New Hampshire coppers, but only the above design has been identified in copies of legislative acts and as such modern colonial coinage scholars have determined that the coin above is the genuine, authorized design.
As these first strikings were patterns seeking legislative approval, only three examples are known. The fact that the Very Good example above is the “Finest Known” specimen and the wear on the coin indicates that either it was in circulation for many years or was carried as a “pocket piece” for decades.
Of the three known examples, one is in the Smithsonian Museum’s National Coin collection, the second is in the collection of the American Numismatic Society and the third example, sold in 2012, has been off the market in a major collection for more than 30 years.
| Date | Type | Mintage | Good Value | Very Good Value |
| 1776 | NH Copper | 3 Known | $125,000 | $250,000 |
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