The History of United States Coinage As Illustrated by the Garrett Collection
Q.David Bowers
Another curious 1776 Massachusetts "penny" is of a different design and features on the obverse the standing figure of an Indian. The reverse depicts a goddess seated. The only known specimen, considerably worn and pierced with a hole, is in the collection of the American Numismatic Society in New York.
The third 1776 pattern issue of Massachusetts has been known as the "Janus copper." Only one specimen is believed to exist, the example from the Garrett Collection. The obverse depicts three heads, with the legend STATE OF MASSA. surrounding, and the denomination 1/2D (D being the abbreviation for denarium, or penny) below. The reverse shows the figure of a goddess seated and facing to the right, with the legend GODDESS LIBERTY around, and the date 1776 below.
Of the coin Crosby notes: This piece, which has been known as the "Janus Copper" we think may more properly be called the Massachusetts Halfpenny. It has three heads combined instead of two as in a Janus head. This device resembles the Brahma of Hindoo mythology, which represents the past, the present, and the future.
The only specimen known of this curious pattern is in the collection of Matthew A. Stickney, Esq., and was found with an engraved piece and some proof impressions from plates for Continental paper money engraved by Paul Revere; from this circumstance Mr. Stickney is inclined to the opinion that they were the work of that engraver. However this may be, the pine tree cent and this halfpenny sufficiently resemble each other in their workmanship to be considered the work of the same artist. They were probably private enterprises, as no mention of them is found upon any records.
Matthew A. Stickney, Esq., of Salem, Massachusetts, was one of the most prominent numismatists during the 19th century. His collection was catalogued by Henry Chapman and was offered at auction in Philadelphia on June 25-29, 1907. In the preface to the catalogue Chapman noted:
About 1823 he began to collect coins and was probably the first person in America to form a systematic collection of the various dates in the several series. This celebrated collection has for many years been a mystery, as hardly anyone of the present generation had seen anything of it; so that it has been a pleasure for me to undertake the work of writing the catalogue [which includes such items as] the great New York Brasher doubloon, a coin that Mr. Stickney prized beyond money and which I feel confident will now be appreciated as it should be; half eagles from 1795 to 1837 complete except 1822; the 1804 $1 which Mr. Stickney obtained from the United States Mint in 1843 and which has never been offered before for competition ...
