1796 Liberty Cap Half Cent. C-2. Rarity-4+. With Pole. VG-8 (PCGS). CAC.Offered is an early date half cent that remains remarkably sound for having seen this extensive circulation. Both sides are quite smooth and even when viewed with the aid of a loupe the surfaces reveal only small, wispy contact marks, none of which are worthy of individual mention. Obverse detail is excellent for the assigned grade with all digits in the date, all letters in LIBERTY, and Libertys portrait fully outlined and readily appreciable. The definition on the reverse is nearly as good with only the word HALF in the denomination and the upper right portion of the wreath lost to wear. The letters NT in CENT and CA in AMERICA are faint, yet discernible. The strike is drawn toward the viewers right just a bit with no denticulation present along the right obverse and reverse borders. Subtle silver highlights notwithstanding, the overall appearance is one of warm olive-brown patina.The 1796 is the key date issue among circulation strike half cents. Mint records state that 1,390 half cents were struck during calendar year 1796 and, although we have no way of knowing whether all of those coins were struck from 1796-dated dies, most collectors accept this figure as the total mintage for this issue. Two die marriages are known, both of which were generally struck on rolled copper planchets, as here. Cohen-2 is readily attributable by the presence of the pole supporting the liberty cap, and it is a bit more plentiful than C-1. This variety is very scarce in an absolute sense, of course, and the rarity of the date as a whole has long resulted in strong collector demand for examples at all levels of preservation. Problem free for the assigned grade with a pleasing appearance, the coin offered here is sure to have no difficulty finding its way into an advanced half cent collection.
