Owner Comments:
During the Confederation Period, a handful of states elected to authorize franchisees to coin money for them, or in the case of Massachusetts, chose to implement its own state run mint. In New York State, a few high profile individuals sought such authorization through petitions, among them being Ephraim Brasher (who fashioned the famous doubloon) and his partner John Bailey, both of New York City; and Captain Thomas Machin.
Some preliminary dies were prepared to facilitate state approval, exhibiting characteristics that would make them palatable to the commercial public - i.e. they incorporated devices (busts), and symbolic effigies (Liberty and Britannia), that had succeeded on contemporary Connecticut and British coppers. Ultimately, New York State elected to regulate existing coinage already in circulation, rather than retain any franchisees to produce coins. All this did not deter private entrepreneurs from producing unauthorized coppers exhibiting legends using the New York State name (in Latin), and symbolism, such as that shown on the official state seal. Among these rogue New York coins were the Nova Eboracs; the Excelsior pieces; the Standing Indian; George Clinton; Non Vi Virtute Vici, displaying a likeness of George Washington; and the Immunis Columbia.
Although scarce, the most plentiful of the unauthorized New York emissions were the Nova Eborac coppers, all dated 1787. Nova Eborac is a shortening of Nova Eboracus, the Latinization of New York.
The Nova Eborac coppers came in four basic types: the Large Bust; the Medium Bust with reverse effigy facing left; the Medium Bust with reverse effigy facing right; and the Small Bust.
Pictured above is a 1787 Large Bust a/k/a Large Head Nova Eborac figure facing right, and graded VF 20 BN by PCGS. The piece, which weighs 147.1 grains, has been variously categorized as: Crosby 2-C; Breen 985; and W-5750. It once resided in the collection of Ted L. Craige.
The Large Head Nova Eborac coppers are the only variety featuring 2 quatrefoils before "Nova" in the obverse legend, and no quatrefoil after "Nova". The reverse displays a seated figure holding a sprig in one hand, and a liberty cap on a pole in the other. The abbreviated peripheral legend stands for virtue/strength and liberty.
This scarce variety carries a URS rarity rating of 6 (with an estimated 17 to 32 examples extant). PCGS has graded 21 specimens, while NGC has graded a mere 7. (Only the Nova Eborac Small Head variety is rarer, with a scant 10 - 12 examples.)
Most Nova Eboracs exhibit substantial wear, testifying to their extensive circulation in commerce.