1795 Liberty Cap Cent. S-76B. Rarity-1. Plain Edge. MS-61 BN (NGC).Glossy surfaces exhibit dominant golden-brown patina to both sides. We also note rose-russet outlines to many of the devices, as well as a bisecting streak of crimson on the obverse. This is an uncommonly well struck coin for a product of the fledgling United States Mint, the denticulation uniformly full around both sides and all design elements boldly to sharply detailed. The surfaces are smooth in hand, uncommonly so for the assigned grade, and they also hold up well in this regard when observed with the aid of magnification. Indeed, blemishes are minor, few and far between, and they largely take the form of a few carbon spots in the upper obverse field and on the reverse at the ribbon bow and around the letters in the word UNITED. A charming early copper with superior technical quality and eye appeal at the assigned grade level. Breen Die State V.Sheldon-76B is the most available variety in the entire Liberty Cap cent series of 1793 to 1796. It is likely the first cent struck to Mint Director Elias Boudinots reduced weight standard of 10.89 grams approved by President Washington on December 27, 1795. According to numismatic researcher R.W. Julian, approximately half of the 501,500 Plain Edge cents of the 1795 date were struck on planchets cut from sheet copper purchased from various sources. The initial delivery for the issue, 20,000 coins struck on December 27 and probably all of the S-76B variety, are on blanks cut from John Anthonys shipment received in the Mint the previous day. Coinage of 1795-dated Plain Edge examples continued through March 12, 1796, using both rolled copper sheets and planchets made from remelted clippings. The former are usually of much higher quality and free of significant planchet defects, as here. While a number of Mint State S-76B cents have survived, they are rare in an absolute sense and hold tremendous appeal for high grade type and variety purposes.
