Among all early American copper issues, the pieces struck by Samuel Higley and his brother John, Jr. are some of the most interesting. Their enigmatic and idiosyncratic iconography has never been adequately explained.
On July 29, 1728 Samuel Higley purchased 143 acres of property lying next to his inherited family lands in Simsbury, Connecticut. Included in the parcel, which cost 500 pounds sterling in New England money, were 40 acres which included the site of a copper mine, from whence Samuel Higley drew the metal for his tokens. Some time around the year 1737 a copper token was struck, valued at threepence. In the same year, other tokens were produced bearing the legend VALUE ME AS YOU PLEASE. The same valuation appeared on tokens dated 1739. The change in value, from a stated threepence to a “value me as you please” is popularly explained by local merchants’ reluctance to accept at threepence value a coin no larger than an English halfpenny.
Higley coppers are found dated 1737, 1739, and without a date (possibly struck in 1737). Eight obverse dies have been recorded, linked with five reverse dies, the 13 known in 15 combinations. This suggests a fairly large output. Nevertheless, the number of coppers that survives today is very small, probably no more than between 60 and 80 specimens of all combinations known. In general, survivors are found on heavily worn planchets in grades of Good to Fine. Specimens above Fine are extremely rare, and Extremely Find is almost unheard of.
Variety:
Freidus 1.1-A
W-8190
Estimated Survivors: 2 Known
Obverse Text:
THE. VALVE. OF. THREE. PENCE.
Reverse Text:
CONNECTICVT. 1737
What to Look For: One example of the two known is impounded in the Eric P. Newman Collection, making this unique in private hands. This early example assigns the copper a value of 3 Pence, which was changed on later coins.
Variety:
Freidus 1.2-A
W-8200
Estimated Survivors: 8 Known
Obverse Text:
THE. VALVE. OF. THREE. PENCE. III
Reverse Text:
CONNECTICVT. 1737
What to Look For: Three crowned hammers are shown on the reverse with the rather scarce CONNECTICVT phrasing as well. This die variety was well struck with a lot of preservation of the original detail. High grade examples are stunning.
Variety:
Freidus 1.2-B.a
W-8205
Estimated Survivors: 2 Known
Obverse Text:
THE. VALVE. OF. THREE. PENCE.
Reverse Text:
I. AM. GOOD. COPPER. 1737
What to Look For: Only two examples of this rarity are known, of which Stack’s has sold both. The finer of the two sold in the Ford Collection and is graded VF-35. The reverse has three hammers and the date.
Variety:
Freidus 1.3-A
W-8125
Estimated Survivors: 6 Known
Obverse Text:
THE. VALVE. OF. THREE. PENCE.
Reverse Text:
CONNECTICVT 1737
What to Look For: Only 13 total examples exist with the CONNECTICVT reverse, and this type represents 6 of them. The reverse features 3 Hammers, but all of this type are found in lower grades, obscuring the revverse design slightly.
Variety:
Freidus 2-B.a
W-8225
Estimated Survivors: 2 Known
Obverse Text:
VALVE. ME. AS. YOU. PLEASE. III
Reverse Text:
I. AM. GOOD. COPPER. 1737
What to Look For: This variety is very similar to Freidus 3.2-B.a with the sole exception that the obverse text spells VALVE as opposed to VALUE. You will also see evidence of a severe die break on the back of the Deer with these obverse dies.
Variety:
Freidus 3.1-B.a
W-8240
Estimated Survivors: 8 Known
Obverse Text:
VALUE. ME. AS. YOU. PLEASE III
Reverse Text:
I. AM. GOOD. COPPER. 1737
What to Look For: Although the estimated survivors is listed as 8 known, 4 are permenantly impounded and off the market to collectors. The remaining 4 are relativley low grade and display significant weakness on key details.
Variety:
Freidus 3.1-C
W-8245
Estimated Survivors: 6 Known
Obverse Text:
VALUE. ME. AS. YOU. PLEASE III
Reverse Text:
J. CUT. MY. WAY. THROUGH.
What to Look For: This Broad Axe reverse lacks the typical date at the bottom. We also note the die crack on the reverse running across the T of THROUGH. Only 4 are held in private hands.
Variety:
Freidus 3.2-B.a
W-8225
Estimated Survivors: 8 Known
Obverse Text:
VALUE. ME. AS. YOU. PLEASE. III
Reverse Text:
I. AM. GOOD. COPPER. 1737
What to Look For: Look for the correct spelling of VALUE on the obverse of this coin. On the reverse, you will notice 3 evenly spaced Axes, as opposed to the single Broad Axe found on other types.
Variety:
Freidus 3.2-C
W-8260
Estimated Survivors: 12 Known
Obverse Text:
VALUE. ME. AS. YOU. PLEASE. III
Reverse Text:
J. CUT. MY. WAY. THROUGH.
What to Look For: This 1737 coin features the Broad, or Large Axe on the reverse. We consider this one of the more common varieties with a dozen known to exist.
Variety:
Freidus 3.3-C
W-8280
Estimated Survivors: 3 or 4 Known
Obverse Text:
VALUE. ME. AS. YOU. PLEASE. III
Reverse Text:
J. CUT. MY. WAY. THROUGH.
What to Look For: Strong die breaks form on the reverse of the coin near the T in THROUGH. On the obverse, there is a crescent shaped mark on the die above the back of the deer.
Variety:
Freidus 3.1-D
W-Unlisted
Estimated Survivors: 1 Known
Obverse Text:
VALUE. ME. AS. YOU. PLEASE. III
Reverse Text:
J. CUT. MY. WAY. THROUGH. 1739
What to Look For: At the time of the John J. Ford Sales, this was a new variety discovery. We note that most 1739 Higleys display significant weakness at the date on the reverse.
Variety:
Freidus 3.2-D
W-8265
Estimated Survivors: 7 Known
Obverse Text:
VALUE. ME. AS. YOU. PLEASE III
Reverse Text:
J. CUT. MY. WAY. THROUGH. 1739
What to Look For: With the change of the date came the change of the reverse design. We now see a Broad Axe on the reverse instead of the three smallers Axes. Of the 1739 year, there are approximatly 20 examples known.
Variety:
Freidus 3.3-D
W-8285
Estimated Survivors: 7 Known
Obverse Text:
VALUE. ME. AS. YOU. PLEASE III
Reverse Text:
J. CUT. MY. WAY. THROUGH. 1739
What to Look For: All three varieties of the 1739 Higley Coppers share the same reverse, paired with three distinct obverses. The present pairing is the most common with 7 known examples.
Variety:
Freidus 4-C
W-8295
Estimated Survivors: 2 Known
Obverse Text:
THE. WHEELE. GOES. ROUND.
Reverse Text:
J. CUT. MY. WAY. THROUGH.
What to Look For: This piece is unique, meaning there is only a single coin known to experts. This coin sold in Bowers & Ruddy’s October, 1980 Auction of the Garrett Collection, and in Stack’s December, 1983 Auction of the John R. Roper, 2nd Collection.
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