Diagnostic Controls & Presets Independent Republic of Vermont Coinage
Diagnostic Forensic Readings
Forensic Attribution Diagnostic
Real-time metallurgical and die variety cross-examination verified against certified populations.
Technical Breakdown: Physics, Metallurgy & Die Diagnostics
Authorized Coiner: Reuben Harmon Jr. (Rupert, Bennington County)
Vermont existed as an independent republic between 1777 and 1791 before admission as the 14th state. The General Assembly granted Harmon a monopoly to coin copper to alleviate the post-war money famine.
Reverse Motto: 'STELLA QUARTA DECIMA' (The 14th Star)
The Latin legend 'STELLA QUARTA DECIMA' surrounding a radiating 14-pointed eye proclaimed Vermont's sovereign aspiration to join the 13 original American colonies as the fourteenth state in the Union.
Two Main Types: Landscape (1785-1786) vs Bust (1786-1788)
Cataloged by Hillyer Ryder in 1920. Landscape types (featuring the sun rising over the Green Mountains with trees and plow) are celebrated as the most patriotic and distinctively American colonial designs.
Documented Benchmark Auction Records
Ex-Partrick Collection. The finest known Landscape Vermont copper; shimmering gloss chocolate surfaces with razor-sharp sunburst rays.
Choice uncirculated slider with seven prominent pine trees on the mountain ridge and complete 'STELLA QUARTA DECIMA' legend.
Green Mountain Boys commercial survivor; smooth chocolate-brown planchet with full 'VERMON AUCTORITAS' legends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Vermont issue its own coinage between 1785 and 1788?
During the American Revolution, Vermont declared itself an independent republic (not one of the original 13 states). To solve a desperate shortage of small change and assert its national sovereignty, the Vermont General Assembly passed an act on June 15, 1785 granting Reuben Harmon Jr. the exclusive right to coin copper money at his private mint in Rupert, Vermont.
What does the Landscape design depict?
The obverse depicts the sun rising behind the Green Mountains with a pine tree ridge and a farmer's plow in the foreground, surrounded by the Latin motto 'VERMONTS RES PUBLICA' ('Republic of Vermont'). The design symbolizes a young, fertile nation looking forward to a bright agricultural future.
What is the meaning of 'STELLA QUARTA DECIMA'?
The Latin inscription on the reverse translates to 'The Fourteenth Star'. Surrounded by 14 radiating rays and 14 stars, it announced Vermont's proud ambition to join the original 13 American colonies as the 14th state of the United States (which finally occurred on March 4, 1791).
Why did Vermont change its design from the Landscape to a Bust in 1787?
While the Landscape design was beautiful, merchants in neighboring New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts were accustomed to British halfpence and Connecticut coppers depicting a royal or classical bust. In 1787, Harmon partnered with the Machin's Mills mint in Newburgh, NY and adopted a bust design ('VERMON AUCTORITAS') to ensure commercial acceptance across all New England states.
How are Vermont coppers classified?
Numismatists use Hillyer Ryder's 1920 classification system (Ryder numbers 1 through 39). Varieties are distinguished by the number of trees on the mountain ridge (6, 7, 8, or 9 trees), the spelling of 'VERMONTS' vs 'VERMONTIS', and the bust orientation (facing left or right).
What were Vermont coppers made of and where were they minted?
They were struck in copper at Reuben Harmon's mint house situated on the Mill Brook in Rupert, Vermont, and later at Machin's Mills in Newburgh, New York. Legal weight began at 160 grains (10.37 g) and was later reduced to 111 grains (7.20 g).
How can you authenticate an original Vermont copper?
Authentic coins have genuine hand-punched letters, characteristic colonial planchet striations or clips, and specific die crack progressions described in the Ryder catalog. Modern cast replicas display porous surfaces, lack crisp die clashing, and often have seams along the edge.