1793 Liberty Cap Half Cent. Head Left. C-3. Rarity-3. EF Details--Corrosion Removed (PCGS). The 1793 half cent is significant as the first United States half cent, the only issue of the Liberty Cap, Head Left design type and one of just two denominations struck during the Mints first full year of coinage operations (the other is the large cent). Henry Voigt engraved the dies between late April and mid-July 1793, and by mid-May the Mint had already prepared more than 30,000 planchets for this issue, including having their edges lettered. All of the planchets were made from sheet copper. Actual coinage commenced on July 20 and continued sporadically until September 18. On that date the Mint also delivered the last of the Wreath cents, after which its doors closed so that employees could join the exodus of Philadelphians fleeing the yearly yellow fever epidemic that swept the city. When cold winter weather finally allowed the Mint to reopen on November 23, 1793, Robert Scot had been hired as engraver; his dies for the next Liberty Cap half cent issue - 1794 - featured a right facing portrait of Liberty. PCGS# 1000. NGC ID: 2222. <strong>To view all items from the Sandra Kay Collection of Sheldon Varieties, click<a href="https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots?sort=auction_date_lot_number_asc&search=From+the+Sandra+Kay+Collection+of+Sheldon+Varieties&limit=36&lots_range=upcoming/"target=’_blank’> here.</a></strong> From the Sandra Kay Collection of Sheldon Varieties. Earlier from Heritages Long Beach Signature Auction of February 2022, lot 3412.
