Circa 1795 Grate Halfpenny. Large Buttons. Musante GW-49, Baker-29AA, Breen-1271. Copper. Diagonally reeded edge. MS-64 RB (PCGS). 28.0 mm. 141.5 grains. Generous faded red remains in outlines around the central motifs and behind the legends. This gives way to light olive brown in the more exposed areas. A few light spots are noted, but these are probably very old and stable as they are reminiscent of the flecks seen on old hoard coppers stored long term in kegs, such as the Randall Hoard large cents. A bit of central softness is noted in the strike which is a common feature of this type, but most of the major elements are reasonably sharp. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex the Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006.
