1793 1/2C, BN MS(PCGS#1000)

November 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Commissaire-priseur

Stack's Bowers

Numéro du lot

3001

Grade

XF40BN

Prix

17 400

Description du lot

An eminently collectible example of this historic issue from the very beginning of U.S. Mint operations. Warmly toned overall, both sides are dressed in dominant autumn-brown with intermingled deep rose highlights. Darker charcoal and olive hues in the protected areas around and within many of the design elements are associated with old carbon and other surface build up. There are no mentionable marks apart from a faint vertical graze in the left obverse field, both sides with a hard and tight texture that presents as smooth in most areas while the coin is admired in hand. Centering is good with full border beading, and all major design elements are boldly to sharply defined at the assigned grade level.<p>The 1793 half cent is significant as the first United States half cent, the only issue of the Liberty Cap, Head Left design type and one of just two denominations struck during the Mint's first full year of coinage operations (the other is the large cent). Henry Voigt engraved the dies between late April and mid-July 1793, and by mid-May the Mint had already prepared more than 30,000 planchets for this issue, including having their edges lettered. All of the planchets were made from sheet copper. Actual coinage commenced on July 20 and continued sporadically until September 18. On that date the Mint also delivered the last of the Wreath cents, after which its doors closed so that employees could join the exodus of Philadelphians fleeing the yearly yellow fever epidemic that swept the city. When cold winter weather finally allowed the Mint to reopen on November 23, 1793, Robert Scot had been hired as engraver; his dies for the next Liberty Cap half cent issue - 1794 - featured a right facing portrait of Liberty. The present coin is well above average in a 1793 half cent; a plurality of survivors of this issue are porous or otherwise impaired. The fact that the 1793 is the only Liberty Cap half cent with the portrait facing left virtually guarantees that this handsome PCGS EF-40 example will catch the eye of both advanced type collectors and early copper enthusiasts.