Colonial Values
Early American money – such as colonial, post-colonial and continental coins – was a much more chaotic affair than the system we have in place today. Many coins from this time period are very rare and expensive.
Immune Columbia Pieces – 1785
Do you know about the five varieties of Immune Columbia? We will break down each of the 1785 issues in this article.
Higley or Granby Coppers – 1737 – 1739
Have you heard of "Higley's coppers"? This article provides a history of Dr. Samuel Higley's unique copper rounds produced between 1737 and 1739.
Hibernia-Voce Populi Coins – 1760
This article discusses the Hibernia-Voce Populi copper coins minted in Ireland, their use alongside farthings and halfpennies, and circulation in the New World.
Half Disme – 1792
Learn more about the 1792 Half Disme, featuring an allegorical representation of Miss Liberty on the obverse, with APMEX today!
Gloucester(VA) Token – 1714
Was the Gloucester Token a tobacco warehouse receipt? This article discusses the likely origins of the Gloucester Token.
Georgius Triumpho Token – 1783
Do you know when the first George Washington tokens were struck? This article discusses the Georgius Triumpho Token.
George Washington Draped Bust Tokens – 1783
There were six primary types of George Washington Draped Bust tokens. This article will show you how to tell them apart.
Fugio Coppers – 1787
Have you ever seen a Fugio cent? This article discusses the design, history, and value of the 1787 Fugio cent.
French New World Issues – 1721 – 1722
The colonists in Canada, the American Colonies and the Caribbean preferred silver coins. The coins were seemingly underweight, even for struck copper coins so they
French New World Coinage – 1717 – 1720
Many of these 1720-dated French coins were used to fund the John Law “Mississippi Bubble” financial Ponzi scheme that exploded and nearly ruined the French
French New World Coinage – 1670
This post breaks down the 5 Sols, 15 Sold, and 2 Deniers coins issued by the Kingdom of France for use in the New World.
French Colonies Issues – 1767
The coin was struck in 1767 and originally intended to replace the old Billon coin as the price of silver continued to rise making the
Franklin Press Token – 1794
The printing press depicted on the token is believed to be the same press used by Benjamin Franklin while he served as a printer in
Disme – 1792
The Disme’s design is significantly different from that of its well-known little sister, the Half Disme. On the obverse, there is an allegorical portrait of
Continental Currency Dollar – 1776
The Continental Dollar is an important but mysterious coin. They are often called “Dollars” or more commonly “Currency” but the true denomination is unknown. Most
Confederatio Coppers – 1785 – 1786
Castorland Medals – 1796
In 1792 a group of French aristocratic investors, backed by Swiss bankers and creditors purchased 630,000 acres of land in upstate New York.
Carolina Elephant Token – 1694
Birch Cent – 1792
The Birch cents were designed by Robert Birch, one of the original 1792 US Mint employees, who also engraved the famous silver Half Dismes and
Bar Copper Cent – 1785
American Plantation Tokens – 1688
Do you know about the five varieties of Immune Columbia? We will break down each of the 1785 issues in this article.
Have you heard of “Higley’s coppers”? This article provides a history of Dr. Samuel Higley’s unique copper rounds produced between 1737 and 1739.
This article discusses the Hibernia-Voce Populi copper coins minted in Ireland, their use alongside farthings and halfpennies, and circulation in the New World.
Learn more about the 1792 Half Disme, featuring an allegorical representation of Miss Liberty on the obverse, with APMEX today!
Was the Gloucester Token a tobacco warehouse receipt? This article discusses the likely origins of the Gloucester Token.
Do you know when the first George Washington tokens were struck? This article discusses the Georgius Triumpho Token.
There were six primary types of George Washington Draped Bust tokens. This article will show you how to tell them apart.
Have you ever seen a Fugio cent? This article discusses the design, history, and value of the 1787 Fugio cent.
The colonists in Canada, the American Colonies and the Caribbean preferred silver coins. The coins were seemingly underweight, even for struck copper coins so they
Many of these 1720-dated French coins were used to fund the John Law “Mississippi Bubble” financial Ponzi scheme that exploded and nearly ruined the French
This post breaks down the 5 Sols, 15 Sold, and 2 Deniers coins issued by the Kingdom of France for use in the New World.
The coin was struck in 1767 and originally intended to replace the old Billon coin as the price of silver continued to rise making the
The printing press depicted on the token is believed to be the same press used by Benjamin Franklin while he served as a printer in
The Disme’s design is significantly different from that of its well-known little sister, the Half Disme. On the obverse, there is an allegorical portrait of
The Continental Dollar is an important but mysterious coin. They are often called “Dollars” or more commonly “Currency” but the true denomination is unknown. Most
In 1792 a group of French aristocratic investors, backed by Swiss bankers and creditors purchased 630,000 acres of land in upstate New York.
The Birch cents were designed by Robert Birch, one of the original 1792 US Mint employees, who also engraved the famous silver Half Dismes and
Washington – Grate Token – 1793
Thomas Wyon designed a 1795 British copper Halfpenny token that utilized the bust of President Washington. It was designed for the London firm of Clark & Harris, who were exporters of and dealers in stoves and fireplace screens, also called Grates!
French Billon Coinage – 1709 – 1760
Towards the end of the 17th century, the French government, mired in a deep recession, turned to striking billon coinage. King Louis XIV created France’s billon coinage by virtue of an edict in October of 1692.
Auctori Plebis Tokens – 1787
The Auctori Plebis Token is an enigmatic colonial token. No one knows who made it, where it was struck, or if an American Merchant ordered it from a British minter. What is certain is that it circulated throughout the American Colonies.
Wood’s Hibernia Coinage – 1722 – 1724
William Wood’s copper coins were heavier than those copper coins already in use, they were in demand and that would continue. In fact, had he produced all that he had permission to strike, he would have lost money over the period of time it would have taken him to fulfill that contract.
Washington President – Born VA – 1792
It was long believed that the same British minter, W. and Alexander Walker had also struck, in 1792, before the news of Washington’s disapproval, coins with the same Washington President obverse but these had a legend on the reverse instead of an eagle.
Washington Cents – 1792
4,000 of these coins were sent to the United States and distributed to Washington, his cabinet members, Senators and Congressmen, and other important officials. Washington said an emphatic NO and these coins would not be ordered.
Washington Cent -1791
A wooden cask of about 4,000 of these “cents” was shipped to Philadelphia to be distributed to members of Washington’s cabinet as well as United States Senators and Congressmen. This was done in hope of impressing these gentlemen and securing a contract to mint large enough quantities to be distributed across the country.
Washington – Unity States Token – 1783
By the middle of the 19th Century, this Unity States token was still in circulation in many of the original colonies of the United States. These tokens and all foreign coins became worthless and unacceptable as payment for any debts by the adoption of the Coinage Act of 1857.
Washington – Ugly Head Satirical Token – 1784
This very rare token was named the “Washington the Great” token but is called the “Ugly Head” because the designer had no idea of what Washington looked like. Some experts speculated that this might have been a satirical piece rather than one to honor Washington.
Washington – Success Medals
Very little is known about the undated Washington “Success” tokens beyond a description of the pieces themselves. The obverse contains a bust-right portrait with the legend GEORGE WASHINGTON while the reverse depicts the Eye of Providence with fifteen long rays and a field of fifteen stars surrounded by the legend SUCCESS TO THE UNITED STATES.
Washington – North Wales Halfpenny – 1795
It is believed that these tokens were also minted in Birmingham, England, by William Lutwyche. Although it also features a portrait of George Washington, in a military coat, facing left, it is an undated and undenominated piece.
Washington – Liberty and Security Tokens – 1795
There are two different types of Liberty and Security Tokens and several variations of each making for approximately seven distinct different Tokens. The first token, designed by Thomas Wyon, is undated and features a military bust of George Washington, facing right.
Washington – Getz Patterns – 1792
Much like the Washington Cents of 1791 and 1792, the Getz Patterns were struck by an outside contractor in hopes of establishing themselves as the possible official coinage of the new American Government. Robert Morris, head of the United States Senate Committee on coinage, hired engraver Peter Getz to strike coinage to his specifications.
Washington – Double Head Cent – (Undated)
A popular Washington Colonial Token is the “Double-Head” Token. This copper token is undated but even though it was struck in the 1820 – the 1840s, it is collected with colonial coins.
Virginia Halfpennies – 1773 – 1774
The 1609 Royal Charter allowed the Colony of Virginia to mint coinage for their uses. After 160 years, the Virginia Assembly authorized the striking of a Halfpenny in 1773 from the Tower of London Mint.
Theatre at New York – 1797
As few as a dozen New York Theater tokens were struck in proof. Skidmore created these “on speculation” and had hoped to obtain a contract from a prosperous New York business to design and strike a series or quantity of tokens for them.
Talbot, Allum & Lee Cents – 1794 – 1795
Talbot, Allum, and Lee commissioned Peter Kempson, who had a mining facility in Birmingham, England to strike two tons of copper tokens for their firm. They had weight and size similar to the British Half Penny to make them acceptable to merchants and customers alike.
Standish Barry 3 Pence – 1790
Standish Barry was a silversmith from Baltimore, Maryland, whose 3 Pence Silver coins are generally collected with US colonial coins. These coins are shrouded in mystery. Who is depicted on their obverse?
St. Patrick or Newby Coinage – (1646-1660)
Mark Newby was a Quaker, from Dublin, Ireland. He came to America in 1681 and settled in Camden, New Jersey. He brought to the New World a large cache of copper coins that have become known as St. Patrick coppers.
Silver Center Cent – 1792
The 1792 United States Pattern coinage is probably the most important pattern coin as they were the precursors to the regular coinage that was to follow in the years to come. These coins were the basis for the United States monetary system, during its infancy, which became the world standard for coinage.
Rosa Americana Coinage – 1722 – 1733
William Wood was the owner of numerous copper and tin mines in Great Britain. He sought and obtained a patent and then permission to strike coinage for use in the British colonies in America and also for use in Ireland.
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