Undated (1795) North Wales Halfpenny. Musante GW-51, Baker-34, W-11150. Rarity-4. Two Stars. Copper. Plain Edge. VF-35 (PCGS).,Blended golden-brown and medium copper patina creates a very pleasing appearance for this conditionally challenging type. The surfaces are remarkably smooth overall with considerable gloss, and the detail is bold apart from the usual softness in the centers, as made. Struck in the late 1790s, this type fits into the larger category of British evasion halfpence, generally softly struck coppers that imitated the designs of regal English and Irish halfpence, though the legends did not precisely copy those of the genuine pieces. Thus, the counterfeiting laws were "evaded," rather than strictly broken. The North Wales halfpennies are attributed to the shop of William Lutwyche, the dies likely engraved by John Gregory Hancock, who also did the die work for the Washington Small and Large Eagle cents of 1791. Made for commercial use and not for distribution to contemporary collectors, the North Wales halfpenny as a type tends to come in much lower grades than the Washington pieces that are part of the British Conder token series. This is a poster example of a crudely-struck "rustic" coin issue. Several varieties are known, all of which are very scarce, if not rare.,PCGS# 770. NGC ID: 2B87.,,