1787 Post Colonial New York Copper Issue PCGS XF-40 Excelsior, Indian & Eagle on Globe

The 1787 New York 1/2 Penny Excelsior, Indian/Eagle variety is one of the great landmarks of early American colonial coinage. Bearing the iconic Excelsior motif with Indian and Eagle designs, this impressive survivor represents a fleeting and experimental era in the nation’s early monetary history. Only 10 surviving pieces are known, placing the issue among the rarest and most coveted of all New York colonial coppers.

Certified PCGS XF40 (BN), this example combines strong detail with attractive, problem-free chocolate brown surfaces that highlight the artistry and historic character of the issue. PCGS has graded just 1 example in XF40, with only 5 finer (although we see it is number 4 in the Condition Census as per Heritage), underscoring the extraordinary rarity and importance of the coin within the series and among advanced colonial collections.

Adding further distinction is its pedigree to the celebrated collection of Eric P. Newman, the renowned numismatist, scholar, and philanthropist whose research and collections helped shape the modern study of early American coinage. Coins from the Newman Collection continue to command tremendous respect for their quality, provenance, and historical significance.

In a January 2018 catalog, Heritage descibes this coins as: Ex: Eric P. Newman Collection. 148.3 grains, 99% copper per NGC metallurgical tests. There were only seven examples of this variety known prior to the present century. Two more were located at the time of the May 2004 Ford sale, and the present copper from the Eric P. Newman Collection brings the total population to 10 examples. This impressive piece exhibits pleasing chestnut-brown surfaces despite trivial roughness on each side. The peripheries display lovely steel-gray toning that frames the design motifs. This example is the fourth finest in our census.