1795 Liberty Cap Half Cent. C-6a. Rarity-2. Plain Edge, No Pole. Thin Planchet--Overstruck on a Talbot, Allum, & Lee Cent--AU-50 (PCGS). This is a particularly intriguing example of this otherwise readily obtainable die variety for the 1795 half cent, and for a couple of reasons. For starters, ones eye is immediately drawn to the prominent remnants of the Talbot, Allum & Lee cent undertype at both the lower obverse and upper reverse borders, the sharpest features on the former side at the base of Libertys portrait and in the date area. Additionally, both sides exhibit antique silver outlines to many of the design elements, especially the wreath on the reverse, which almost give this coin the appearance of having been silvered. Other areas exhibit handsome copper brown patina, the surfaces overall smooth in hand with only a few wispy handling marks over the upper left reverse that we mention solely for accuracy. Border denticulation is complete around both sides, if thin along the lower right obverse and reverse. The date is legible, yet incomplete due to interference from the undertype. Most 1795 C-6a half cents are overstruck on cut down Talbot, Allum & Lee cents, as here, but seldom are remnants of the undertype this bold. Manley Die State 2.0.
