1787 VT 1/2P Bust Right RR-25 PCGS VG8BN For Sale

1787 VT 1/2P Bust Right RR-25 PCGS VG8BN 1787 VT 1/2P Bust Right RR-25 PCGS VG8BN 1788 VT 1/2P Bust Right, RR-25, BN SKU: 46767220 ITEM SPECIFICS PCGS #687738 Grading ServicePCGS GradeVG8 Mint LocationPhiladelphia Year1787 DesignationBN StrikeN/A Grade Add OnNONE Description

An historic Vermont Republic copper with exceptional colonial-era character, certified PCGS VG8BN and representing the scarce Bust Right RR-25 variety.

This 1787 Vermont halfpenny presents the distinctive Bust Right obverse, modeled in the familiar style of contemporary British copper coinage. The obverse legend reads VERMON AUCTORI, an abbreviated Latin inscription meaning “By the Authority of Vermont,” surrounding a right-facing bust. The reverse displays the seated figure type with the legend INDE ET LIB, meaning “Independence and Liberty,” with the date below. The design reflects both Vermont’s independent political identity and the practical need for circulating copper coinage in the years following the American Revolution.

Certified PCGS VG8BN, this example shows honest, even circulation consistent with the assigned grade. The major design elements remain appreciable, including the outline of the bust, portions of the legends, the seated reverse figure, and the date area. The surfaces exhibit deep brown and copper-brown color with darker peripheral toning, giving the coin a pleasing, original colonial appearance. As expected for a copper that saw extensive 18th-century circulation, the surfaces show wear and scattered marks, yet the piece retains strong visual authenticity and considerable historical appeal.

Vermont coppers occupy a special place among early American issues. Coinage began in 1785 while Vermont was still an independent republic, prior to its admission as the 14th state in 1791. The Bust Right varieties, including RR-25, followed earlier landscape types and were intentionally designed to resemble British halfpence, which still circulated widely in post-Revolutionary America. This effort to encourage acceptance in commerce makes the type particularly evocative of the monetary realities of the Confederation period.

The RR-25 variety is a desirable and specialized issue within the Vermont copper series, pursued by colonial specialists and type collectors alike. PCGS records a population of just 3 examples at this grade level, with only 17 graded higher, underscoring the limited certified availability of this variety. Any identifiable Vermont copper with strong certification and readable design detail is notable; a scarce variety with this level of historic presence is especially appealing.

A compelling certified example of one of America’s most historically significant colonial copper issues, this 1787 Vermont Bust Right RR-25 halfpenny offers rarity, character, and direct connection to the formative years of the United States.