1787 CT 1/2P Laughing Head, BN (Regular Strike)
Series: U.S. Colonial Issues
PCGS MS62BN
PCGS MS62BN
PCGS MS61BN
- PCGS #:
- 358
- Designer:
- N/A
- Edge:
- N/A
- Diameter:
- N/A
- Weight:
- N/A
- Mintage:
- N/A
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- Other
- Auction Record:
- $44,063 • MS65 • 05-16-2014 • Heritage Auctions
Major Varieties
- 1787 CT 1/2P Small Head Right, ''ET LIB'', BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P Liberty Seated Right, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P MB Right, 'INDE ET', BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P Mail Bust Rt, Muttonhead, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P Mailed Bust Left, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P Laughing Head, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P Hercules Head, BN
- 1787/1877 CT 1/2P Mailed Bust Left, BN
- 1787/1788 CT 1/2P Mailed Bust Left, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P Mailed Bust Left, Horned, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P Mail Bust Left, CONNECT, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P Draped Bust Left, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P DB Left, AUCIORI, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P DB Left, AUCTOPI, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P Draped Bust Left, AUCTOBI, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P DB Left, CONNFC, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P DB Left, CONNLC, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P Draped Bust Left, FNDE, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P Draped Bust Left, ETLIR, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P DB Left, ETIIB, BN
- 1787 CT 1/2P Georgivs III Obverse, BN
Condition Census What Is This?
|
#1 MS64 estimated grade
Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society - Heritage 5/2014:30082, $44,062.50 - Carter Numismatics, offered on their website on 6/25/2015 for $67,500 |
|
#2 Choice Uncirculated estimated grade
John Work Garrett Collection - Johns Hopkins University Collection - Bowers & Ruddy 10/1980:1353, $8,000 |
#3 AU58+ PCGS grade
St. Jude Collection |
|
#4 AU58 PCGS grade
Heritage 3/2007:6, $4,600 |
| #4 AU58 PCGS grade |
| #4 AU58 PCGS grade |
| #4 AU58 PCGS grade |
| #4 AU58 PCGS grade |
| #9 AU55 PCGS grade |
| #9 AU55 PCGS grade |
The 1787 "Laughing Head" Connecticut Copper is such an unusual design type that it is listed separately in the Redbook (Guidebook of United States Coin). The nickname came from the crude rendering of a regal portrait whose parted lips appear to be laughing. There are actually two different obverse dies that qualify as "Laughing Heads". Miller's 6.1 obverse is the more common, while his 6.2 obverse is more rare. Because of subtle differences, the 6.2 obverse appears to be "laughing" more than the 6.1. Both obverse dies are paired with the same reverse (Miller's "M").
This is a fairly plentiful type and there are numerous high-grade examples. The finest examples are two Mint State pieces: one from the Garrett Collection in 1980 and a more recent example from the Eric Newman Collection. Below those two coins are numerous AU pieces that fill out the rest of the Condition Census.