Albany Church Penny (no "D" variety)

Dateca.1790

Made under direction of First Presbyterian Church

MediumCopper

DimensionsDiameter: 28mm

Credit LineGift of the Lasser family.

Object number2008-46,10

DescriptionWorn out copper coin struck with a large round punch reading "CHURCH / Penny" within a scalloped border.Label TextIn the years before the United States Mint began churning out large quantities of copper coins, many of those circulating in America were the worn or otherwise unsuitable pieces referred to as "coppers." These included older British and European issues, plus various counterfeits made on both sides of the Atlantic. Taking issue with bad coppers, the First Presbyterian Church of Albany sought to improve the quality of coin deposited in their collection plate.

The Trustees of the church resolved on January 4, 1790, that "one thousand coppers be stamped church penny, and placed in the hands of the treasurer, for the purpose of exchanging with the congregation at the rate of twelve for one shilling, in order to add respect to the weekly collections." As with most coppers then in circulation, the "Church Pennies" were of halfpenny size, thereby doubling the Church's monetary investment in the program.

Today, the "Albany Church Penny" is amongst the most recognizable 18th c. American issues and is very rare. Colonial Williamsburg's example is the variety made without a large "D" over the word "Chruch." This letter is believed to stand for the Latin word "denarium," which came to mean "penny."

Breen #1169