Early American copper enthusiasts will be delighted at the incredible 1795 C-2a half cent featured in lot 5073 of Rarities Night in our August 2019 ANA Auction. Certified AU-58+ (PCGS), it ranks as a Condition Census example and offers superior, near-Mint surfaces. Considerable satiny luster blankets the fields, yielding to a hint of friction across the highest points. The patina is dominated by rich burnt-caramel hues and speckles of darker espresso color toward the left of each side. Clash marks are seen and a hairline crack surrounds OF on the reverse, indicating a later die state called 3.0 by Manley. The eponymous "punctuation" between the first two digits of the date is bold on the obverse and accompanies similar scattered die chips and cracks in the peripheries. The coin is sharply struck and without distracting abrasions, leaving just a shallow mark at Liberty’s throat to be noted under scrutiny.
The present example comfortably sits in the mid-range of the condition census. The attractive surfaces certainly approach Mint State quality in many respects. Listed as eighth on Breen’s Condition Census and tied for fifth in the Spurlock census with just two graded finer by PCGS. Specialists will be sure to recognize the immense significance of the present offering!
This AU-58+ (PCGS) 1795 half cent will be featured in lot 5073 of our August 2019 ANA World’s Fair of Money Auction, where it will be sold alongside incredible rarities from the Taraszka Collection, the ESM Collection, and many others. The sale is now available for bidding and viewing on our website www.StacksBowers.com. You can also call 800-566-2580 or email [email protected] to secure your copy of this incredible catalog. Be sure to download our mobile app to view and participate in our auctions via your Android or Apple device.
