1/2 Cent, Massachusetts, 1787
date: label: Date made
content: 1787
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: One (1) 1/2 cent coin
label: Description (Brief)
content: Massachusetts, 1787
label: Description (Brief)
content: Obverse Image: Standing Native American male holding a bow and arrow.
label: Description (Brief)
content: Obverse Text: COMMON WEALTH
label: Description (Brief)
content: Reverse Image: Eagle with shield over chest. Branch in right claw, arrows in left.
label: Description (Brief)
content: Reverse Text: MASSACHUSETTS / HALF CENT / 1787
label: Description
content: In the earliest years of the United States, it was common practice for each state to issue its own coins. In 1787 and 1788, Massachusetts issued copper half-cents featuring a Native American man on the obverse, and a heraldic eagle on the reverse. These coins were among the first US coins to bear the word “cent,” a denomination defined as one one-hundredth of a Spanish dollar.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Massachusetts
label: place of issue
content: United States: Massachusetts
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: National Numismatic Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1984.1046.0108
label: catalog number
content: 1984.1046.0108
label: accession number
content: 1984.1046
objectType: label: Object Name
content: coin
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: copper (overall metal)
label: Physical Description
content: 0 (overall die axis)
label: Physical Description
content: 0 (overall die axis measurement)
label: Physical Description
content: struck (overall production method)
label: Measurements
content: overall: .15 cm x 2.4 cm; 1/16 in x 15/16 in