1787 NY 1/2P Excelsior, Eagle Left, BN 15 PCGS号427

Ron Guth

One of the more famous and popular New York issues is the Excelsior Copper with the arms of New York on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse.  On the front of the coin a smaller eagle is perched atop a small globe.  On one variety, the eagle's head is turned right; on this one, the head is turned left.  The two varieties appear to be of similar rarity, though the "Eagle Left" variety is encountered more frequently.

Though a rare variety, a surprising number of examples exist in high circulated grades.  No Mint State examples are known, and the best appears to be a PCGS AU55 or the Garrett:599 example (they may be one and the same).