Owner Comments:
For a long time, the origin of the Immunis Columbia (hereinafter IC) coppers, with Large Eagle reverse, languished in obscurity. Although there are still many unanswered questions, the diligent research and keen observations of Michael Hodder, have shed considerable light on the subject.
Early on, Sylvester S. Crosby believed that these pieces were manufactured in England, possibly in Birmingham, as a proposal for an American coinage contract. Over time however, his perspective evolved to a recognition that they were American emissions.
Walter Breen espoused the traditional view that the ICs were pattern pieces, because of their rarity. He speculated that they were engraved by Thomas Atlee at Matthias Ogden's Rahway, New Jersey Mint, as patterns for a Federal coinage. The substantial wear most display, atypical for patterns, was explained by their being dumped into circulation, once it became apparent that they would not be adopted by the Federal government.
In the January 1991 issue of the Colonial Newsletter, Michael Hodder published a more plausible and cogently reasoned explanation: He noted that the ICs come in two varieties, differentiated by the size of the planchet used. All four of the known "wide planchet" variety specimens were struck over late die state Maris 26-S New Jersey coppers at Rahway. These were minted no earlier than 1788 to mid 1789. The second "narrow planchet" variety has been proven to have been struck even later than the wide planchet ICs. With these later production time frames, the ICs could not possibly have been pattern pieces for a proposed 1787 Federal coinage. As non-patterns, they were clearly intended for circulation at a profit. In fact, Matthias Ogden, was very happy to produce coppers that did not bear the official New Jersey designs and legends, because by doing so, he could avoid paying the 10% surcharge due to the State on all such coins minted.
Pictured above is a 1787 Immunis Columbia, with Large Eagle reverse, and plain edge, graded XF 45 by PCGS. It has been designated W-5680. This scarce late Confederation Period private issue is the only readily collectible variety in the IC series. It is of the narrow planchet variety. which is normally between 25 - 27 mm wide, (as opposed to the wide planchet overstrike variety that ranges from 29 - 31 mm). Since the narrow planchet specimens were impressed on discs too small for the striking dies, they are often found with some part of the coin's legend, design, denticles and/or date off planchet. The pictured coin however, appears unusually well centered. Most
narrow planchet variety coppers were struck at the Rahway, New Jersey Mint, but some later ones may have been produced at the Elizabethtown, New Jersey Mint.
"Immunis" in the obverse legend is Latin for free from tribute or tax (without representation). Columbia refers to the land of Columbus, i.e. America.
Approximately 65 - 125 examples of the narrow planchet variety survive today. A unique piece exhibits an ornamental edge.