Catalog
3 Pence - Higley Copper With Deer
| Issuer | Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Year | 1737-1739 |
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| Diameter | 23-24 mm |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | A broad axe, positioned diagonally across the central field with the blade facing upper left, serves as the principal device on this reverse, alluding to John Higley's occupation as a blacksmith and his use of copper mined locally in Granby, Connecticut. The legend I. CUT. MY. WAY. THROUGH. runs clockwise around the periphery, separated by pellets, conveying the issuer's bold defiance of contemporary monetary conventions. A border of fine denticles or toothed decoration encircles the inner legend on this example. The workmanship is consistent with the hand-cut dies attributed to Higley, displaying bold if somewhat irregular lettering. The plain flan and primitive die work are hallmarks of this celebrated series of pre-Revolutionary American copper tokens. |
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| Additional information |
Samuel Higley of Granby, Connecticut mined his own copper from a local deposit and struck these pieces without any governmental authorization whatsoever. When recipients objected to his self-declared valuation, Higley's response was to change the legend rather than the metal content — a characteristically blunt solution. The coins circulated locally by sheer social acceptance, not legal mandate.
No two are quite alike. Higley worked without a consistent die setup, and the known varieties differ in legend, punch arrangement, and execution — which is precisely why PCGS tracks them under six separate reference numbers. Surviving examples almost universally show heavy wear or environmental damage from decades in pocket or soil.