1737 Higley Copper
Freidus 2-B.a
W-8225
Obverse Design:
The obverse of the coin shows a deer facing the left side of the coin. In a circle around the deer is the text listed above. Centered in ornamentation at the bottom of the coin are III Roman Numerals. A pointing hand is located to the left of the 3 Roman Numerals, pointing to the word VALVE. To the right of the 3 Roman Numerals is a star symbol.
Reverse Design:
This design shows three crowned small hammers centered on the coin. Text surrounds the design and a pointing hand is placed to the left of the date, pointing to the I.
Helpful Tips for Identifying the W-8225, Freidus 2-B.a Variety:
The main diagnostic for this Higley Copper is the change in the denomination. Rather than listing THE VALVE OF THREE PENCE, the phrasing is changed to VALVE ME AS YOU PLEASE. This also differs from the Freidus 3 varieties that use the spelling of VALUE instead of VALVE. On the reverse, the head of the lower right hammer is located over the 3 of 1737. The Unique W-8230, Freidus 2-B.b, held in the permanent collection of the Connecticut State Library, positions the head of the hammer over the final 7 of 1737. In all other ways, W-8225 and W-8230 are the same.
 VALVE spelling on obverse |  VALUE spelling on obverse |
The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the Sydney F. Martin Collection, Part I, where it realized $84,000.
