On Connecticut copper, the obverse portrait is often referenced as "the effigy",

[James_OldeTowne]

... but who is it a portrait of?

 

 

[Just Bob]

The legislation passed by the Connecticut legislature, known as the General Court , read "... a mans head on the one side with a Circumscription in the Words or Letters following (Viz) AVCTORI : CONNEC : and on the other side the Emblem of Liberty with an olive branch in her hand with a circumscription in the Words and Figures following (Viz) INDE : ET . LIB : 1785 : ... "

The image was patterned after the British halfpenny, featuring George III (bust right), but was also minted with a "bust left" image, starting in late 1785, possibly to thwart counterfeiters.

 

Interestingly. the legislation authorizing the coins stated that "nothing in this Act shall be construed to make such Coppers a legal Tender in payment of Any Debt." The Senate had wanted to make the coppers legal tender in payments not exceeding three shillings but that clause was struck out by the Assembly. Thus, according to the law, the coppers were made as a convenience to facilitate commerce but no one was legally bound to accept them.

 

 

Information gathered from this website.

[michael]

a corpulant aristacratic older white european man

 

as already said patterned after geo. III??

[PerryHall]

They made every effort to make the coin similar to the British coins then in circulation to make it acceptable to the public who were for the most part illiterate.

[Conder101]

Interestingly. the legislation authorizing the coins stated that "nothing in this Act shall be construed to make such Coppers a legal Tender in payment of Any Debt."

The only one of the four state coinages (VT,NH,CT,and NJ) that was legal tender were the NJ pieces.