Hi guys, It was over a year ago when I first started to fall for colonials. I went to a "buy and sell gold" shop close to my house and saw some odd-looking coin dated 1787. With a price tag of over $200, I could not afford it but was certainly interested. When I got home to research it, I discovered that it was a 1787 Massachusetts colonial coin, which introduced me into the world of US colonial coppers. Over the past year, I have collected others...Constellatio Novas, Nova Caesareas, Auctori Conn., but I was always missing the Massachusetts. On a whim, I decided to check ebay for some Colonial auctions that were ending today, and saw a Massachusetts with a low bid that was ending soon. I plugged it into my ebay sniper, and was notified today that I won it. It is in the same condition as the one at the gold shop, but I won it for less than half the price. Very happy right now. On a side note, anyone know the variety for this one? Thanks and enjoy, Simon
Well, the arrows are on the right side of the coin, so I don't think it's the "raised cents" variety (which has the arrows in the other talon)...
Hey non cents I have one of these Mass. coins that is made out of a material that looks like pewter , it has half cent or one cent sunken in on eagles breast. I'm thinking it is either a fake or may be a pattern coin. has anyone ever heard of one like this?
I'll try to get some photos for you tomorrow . I have my coins put away in a hard to get too place . I had to hide them after someone stole a lot of the good ones and traded them for pills. the old MASS. coin I have looks about like yours but it is not copper. the old coin tones to a greenish gray color unlike any metal I know of except silver or maybe pewter. I have owned this one about 32 years. I got it when my oldest son was a baby and he is now 33 . non cents if I forget remind me to get the photos . We are babysitting for two grandkids and they are a handful.
I got it for a bit shy of $100...I checked sold ebay listings and it seemed reasonable. There were some of lesser quality going for less, and some of better quality going for more. Given the clarity of the date on this one, I think I did fine on this one.
Sorry non cents I searched about a hour today and the old coin was not where I thought it was. My grandkids are making it hard for me to think. I will put photos of it on the forum if I run across it again. I'm almost sure it is a cast counterfeit anyway. I googled pewter Mass. cent today and found where it said a lot of cast counterfeits were made back in the colonial days.
The coin arrived today and here are my pictures of it. The lighting that the seller used to photograph the coin apparently really exaggerated the planchet grain. Coin looks a lot more smooth in-hand. Anyone think that it would grade cleanly, or would you think it would get slabbed with environmental damage? Also, what do you think the grade is?
I'd call it a vg and as yo it grading clean is about 50/50 I can't call it it will I think depend on the day there a good deal for $100 is a coin I have.a particular like for as they were circulating around here right about the time my house was built and Maine was part of Massachusetts until 1820 I have both the 87 and 88 but still lack the half cent
