March 1, 2025: Collecting Colonial & Early American Coins

At shows and online, a lot of collectors express interest in colonial and early American coins, but often say that they don’t know much about them, and they don’t know where to begin or how to go about it. So it seems like a good time for a primer on this topic.

First, I would say there are of course as many different ways to collect these coins as there are collectors. Some collect by type, some focus on one series by date and mint, some dive into die varieties, some really, really dive into die varieties, etc. My personal preference in early American issues is to collect by major type, where you can you have a variety of coins with vastly different motifs, from different origins, in different sizes, struck in different metallic compositions and, in total, present an historically significant and visually compelling display.

But rather than have a conceptual discussion, I thought it would be interesting to assemble a potential 12-coin basic colonial and early American type set including popular and significant issues and illustrated using coins in generally obtainable grades that we have previously owned:

A Pillar Dollar
Struck from 1732-1772, at the colonial Spanish mints in Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala, Chile and Colombia, Pillar Dollars (actually denominated as 8 Reales) circulated widely in early America and remained legal tender in the United States until the amazingly late date of 1857 (!). Here illustrated with a 1768-LM JM Peru 8 Reales:

A Pine Tree Shilling
The quintessential colonial coin, Pine Trees were struck in the Hull Mint in Boston (on what is now the site of a Macy’s department store!) in ~1670 , all bearing the date 1652, the date of the legislation authorizing their production. These exist in two major types and a myriad of die varieties, and circulated widely for decades. Here illustrated with a 1652 Pine Tree Shilling, Large Planchet type, Noe-1 variety:

A Virginia Halfpenny
Struck in England for the Virginia Colony in 1773, this type bears an obverse portrait of King George III and is one of a few colonial-era copper issues that can be obtained with appreciable, original mint red remaining. Illustrated with a 1773 Virginia ½p, No Period After GEORGIVS type:

A Chalmers Shilling
Annapolis silversmith John Chalmers produced this private issue coinage with government approval in 1783 to replace the often underweight fractional currency then in use. With a classic design featuring two birds fighting over a worm on the obverse while a snake waits ominously on the other side of a hedge, generally interpreted as a warning for the states to stop fighting amongst themselves while danger lurks nearby (likely in the form of England). Here illustrated with a 1783 Chalmers Shilling, Short Worm type.

A Nova Constellatio Copper
A distinctive and popular issue, Nova Constellatio tokens were believed to have been struck in England, but were known to have circulated in early America. The obverse legend translates as “The New Constellation” (referring to the fledgling United States) surrounding an all-seeing eye, with US on the reverse surrounded by Liberty and Justice. Illustrated with this 1785 Nova Constellatio, Pointed Rays, Script US, Crosby 4-C variety.

A Massachusetts Cent
These copper coins were authorized by the Massachusetts state government and struck in 1787-88, in several major types and in many die varieties, all bearing the obverse portrait of an Indian as seen on the state seal. Massachusetts coinage adhered to the federal resolution of July 6, 1785 which established a decimal ratio of 100 cents to the Spanish 8 Reales and was thus the first early American issue to bear the word CENT. Here illustrated with this 1788 Massachusetts 1¢, Period After MASSACHUSETTS variety:

An Immunis Columbia Copper
A neat type originally thought to have been struck as a pattern for a national issue, but later research (and the existence of many well circulated examples) indicates this was most likely a regular circulating issue. With Ms. Liberty seated on a globe on the obverse holding the scales of justice and surrounded by the legend translated as “America Immune” (either from taxation, or possibly the troubles of the world), and E. PLURIBUS UNUM around an eagle on the reverse:

A New Jersey Copper
Struck in New Jersey 1786-1788, in nearly 150 different varieties, with all but a few rare patterns bearing a horse head above a plow surrounded by NOVA CÆSAREA (Latin for New Jersey) on the obverse, and E. PLURIBUS UNUM around a shield on the reverse. Here illustrated with this 1787 New Jersey Copper, Outlined Shield type, Maris 48-g variety:

A Vermont Landscape Copper
Struck in Vermont in 1785-1786, in three major types and multiple die varieties, all featuring a charming Green Mountain landscape scene unlike anything else in the American series on the obverse, and the all-seeing eye surrounded by STELLA QUARTA DECIMA (translated as The 14th Star), referring to Vermont’s desire to become the fourteenth state. Here illustrated with a 1786 Vermont VERMONTENSIUM type, Ryder-7 variety:

A Bar Copper
One of the most famous and popular colonial era issues, these were likely struck in England, and were specifically mentioned in the November 12, 1785 edition of the New Jersey Gazette as circulating in New York. With the obverse and reverse designs both borrowed from the designs of Continental Army buttons, with an interlocking USA on the obverse, and 13 bars representing the colonies on the reverse:

A 1791 Washington Cent
Washington Cents were struck in 1791 in two major types as patterns for a circulating national coin, but this design was said to have been rejected by George Washington as too monarchial. Here illustrated with a 1791 Washington 1¢, Small Eagle type:

A Fugio 1¢
Now recognized as the first United States coin, Fugios were struck in 1787 in many major types and more than 50 die varieties using designs by Benjamin Franklin. The obverse is a rebus with a sundial representing time and FUGIO (Latin for I Fly), above the legend MIND YOUR BUSINESS meaning time flies, so stay on task. The reverse rings represent the colonies surrounding STATES UNITED with WE ARE ONE within. Represented here by this 1787 Fugio 1¢, 8 Pointed Stars type, Newman 15-K variety:

While we are describing this set as basic, completing it in original, problem free coins of the quality illustrated would not be easy, and would require careful searching and patience. This same set could of course also be built in lower, more affordable grades, and also in superb gem condition, though those coins are typically fiercely contested and very expensive (with some of those viewable in Our Archive).

In whatever grade, the next steps (if one so desired) could be to expand this set to include other colonial and early American issues, some which are fairly readily obtainable, and others that are very rare and infrequently seen.

Perhaps we’ll illustrate that in an upcoming Coin Commentary . . .