Sandon's Incidental Type Set
1/2c LIBERTY CAP, HEAD RIGHT (1794-97)

Owner Comments:

I purchased this early half cent uncertified in November 1997 at a local auction and submitted it for certification by NGC in April 2022. It is a specimen of the "lettered edge with pole" Redbook variety (C-1). I took the photos prior to submitting it for certification. I was not surprised that it did not receive a numerical grade, as its surfaces are somewhat dark and rough, and it has a cut on the reverse rim above "E" in "AMERICA". I expected it to receive at most an Extremely Fine details grade and believe that the "AU details corrosion" description by NGC is somewhat optimistic regarding its amount of wear while exaggerating the degree of impairment. (NGC rejected my submission of this coin at the "standard" level and instead charged me $80 for the "expedited" level for a coin valued at over $3,000. I doubt that the coin is worth that much.)

This variety exemplifies the charming crudity of early U.S. coinage. I have always been amused that the punch used for the letter "I" in "LIBERTY" was also used for the numeral "1" in the date. The exact head was used for coins dated 1795-97. The head used on coins dated 1794 is quite different but is nevertheless considered to be of the same type.