Hi all, fresh from the dirt I believe I could see 1796. after removal from it's leaf wrapping, oxidized layer was peeling away like old paint. I can tell from the spacing between the 'L' and the cap it must be 1795 or 1796. Anyone have other diagnostics to ID this copper? Thanks for looking, Herbie.
If that is an 1796 no-pole half cent (variety C-1), then I agree, it is one hell of an impressive find. Just to give you an idea - only about 20 are known, stated to be rarity 6. It is rarer than the with-pole variety. Robinson quotes a value for an example in 'scudzy about good 3' condition at $9K. Yours would be somewhat lower than that due to the extensive ground corrosion, but still. To be sure, please check the reverse of your coin against this reverse (borrowed from Heritage). Specially the position of the leaves, bow and stem visible on your coin. I am truly wishing you have a 1796 C-1 half cent. http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=438&lotNo=56
Although not mentioned, I assumed you have posted stock photos of a '94, 96 C-1, and 97. And that the other pics (in hand) are your ground find. The coin in hand is not a '96 c-1 (as the second to last obverse photo depicts. If you look at the reverse of the in-hand ground find you will notice that the right outer leaf tip directly above the I in AMERICA points right at the I. This is not consistent with either of the '96s (c-1 or c-2), where the leaf tip points above the I.
Thanks Eduard and Dave, have downloaded the images of reverses for 95s & 96s. Nice that HA allows access to these hi res files. will be doing some comparisons and see what I come up with. Best wishes all!
Thanks for the points Dave, my first clue was lack of any sign of the die crack. likely a 95. '94 and '97 obverse are easily differentiated from mine by the relation of L to cap.
This combined with the spacing of the L to the liberty cap is actually diagnostic for the 1795 no pole C6 variety.
Thanks Beef, A fairly common variety.. and not the first time I've mistaken a 5 for a 6 on dug copper, two 1775 halfpence I have sure look to be 1776, but none were minted that year, Thanks all, Herbie.
Nice to communicate with the knowledgeable people here, I'm used to Metal Detecting forums. Indeed, likely more counterfeits than regals of the era circulating in the Colonies. Of 14 George II Halfpennies I've recovered, 7 are fakes. My favorite period CFT is an 1802 US Cent made with 18 grams of lead, could not pass as genuine on its own, but possibly for use in a larger transaction where a bag of coppers would be traded by weight, the only idea I can come up with to explain the effort put into making this piece. Back to the 1775 HPs, I believe they are both Regals as weight and size are within parameters. You are likely familiar, here's a photo to show how with some wear and environmentals, the Regal 1775 can start to look like a 1776.
