Liberty Cap Half Cents 1795 LETTER EDGE 1/2C MS

NGC Universal ID: 2224

Coin Information

1795 LETTER EDGE 1/2C MS
Obverse
1795 LETTER EDGE 1/2C MS
Reverse
  • Category: Liberty Cap Half Cents (1793-1797)
  • Mint: Philadelphia
  • Mintage: 25,600
  • Obverse Designer: Robert Scot
  • Reverse Designer: Robert Scot
  • Composition: Copper
  • Weight: 6.7400gg
  • Diameter: 23.5mm
  • Edge: Lettered
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Grade Summary

View a summary of the NGC Price Guide, NGC Census, Auction Prices Realized and NGC Registry Scores for each grade.

1795 LETTER EDGE 1/2C MS
 
NGC Price Guide
NGC Census
Auction Prices Realized
NGC Registry Score
Find it on eBay
PrAgGVGFVFXFXF+5050+5353+5555+5858+6060+6161+6262+6363+6464+6565+6666+6767+6868+6970
$350 $700 $1200 $1650 $4000 $6500 $7000 $8100 $8500 $9200 $10750 $13500 $15000 $17250 $18000 $20000 $20500 $21500 $22000 $23500 $27500 $42500 $50000 $91500
110101619902010403000206010100000000000

10/9/16 - PCGS
$193.88
Lot# 25005 - HA

3/25/12 - PCGS
$369.60
Lot# 43587 - GC

3/25/12 - PCGS
$369.60
Lot# 43587 - GC

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2/27/23 - PCGS
$690.00
Lot# 53064 - HA

9/11/19 - PCGS
$528.00
Lot# 23126 - HA

2/22/18 - PCGS
$780.00
Lot# 7038 - HA

10/9/16 - PCGS Genuine
$124.00
Lot# 25520 - HA

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2/27/23 - NGC Details
$840.00
Lot# 53063 - HA

5/19/21 - PCGS
$720.00
Lot# 92019 - SB

12/24/17 - PCGS Genuine
$216.00
Lot# 21233 - HA

10/15/17 - PCGS Genuine
$336.00
Lot# 27371 - HA

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2/27/23 - PCGS
$3120.00
Lot# 53065 - HA

9/10/19 - NGC Details
$480.00
Lot# 91001 - HA

9/8/19 - PCGS
$1560.00
Lot# 3011 - HA

9/8/19 - PCGS
$1560.00
Lot# 3011 - HA

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8/16/21 - PCGS
$3000.00
Lot# 1058 - SB

6/20/21 - PCGS
$5520.00
Lot# 3272 - HA

6/20/21 - PCGS
$3720.00
Lot# 3273 - HA

7/14/19 - PCGS
$2160.00
Lot# 7005 - HA

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3/3/16 - NGC Details
$2966.88
Lot# 3466 - HA

4/22/15 - NGC
$6462.50
Lot# 3049 - HA

4/22/15 - NGC
$6462.50
Lot# 3049 - HA

7/7/11 - NGC
$9775.00
Lot# 3022 - HA

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11/5/15 - PCGS
$8812.50
Lot# 20001 - SB

6/1/11 - PCGS
$10350.00
Lot# 3014 - HA

7/30/08 - PCGS
$19550.00
Lot# 944 - HA

7/27/05 - PCGS
$18400.00
Lot# 10086 - HA

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1/7/09 - PCGS
$10350.00
Lot# 3569 - HA

1/7/09 - PCGS
$10350.00
Lot# 3569 - HA

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9/20/20 - NGC
$15600.00
Lot# 3562 - HA

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4/27/11 - PCGS
$17250.00
Lot# 5011 - HA

12/3/09 - NGC
$20125.00
Lot# 26 - HA

7/31/09 - NGC
$21275.00
Lot# 1015 - HA

4/28/09 - PCGS
$10350.00
Lot# 2019 - HA

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4/28/09 - PCGS
$17250.00
Lot# 2020 - HA

7/30/08 - PCGS
$46000.00
Lot# 1494 - HA

7/30/08 - PCGS
$46000.00
Lot# 1494 - HA

5/9/07 - PCGS
$37375.00
Lot# 2013 - HA

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1/26/14 - PCGS
$115000.00
Lot# 25 - GO

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2,308 2,375 2,705 3,882 5,803 6,903 7,231 7,502 7,623 7,865 7,996 8,259 8,472 8,900 9,718 11,354 11,603 12,101 12,322 12,765 13,643 15,400 15,629 16,089 16,325 16,799 17,043 17,533 17,984 18,886 21,627 27,111 31,257 39,551 58,589
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Description & Analysis

It has been speculated that John Smith Gardner provided the new bust of Liberty employed for 1795-97 half cents, but this is not proveable with the available documentation. The severe reduction in relief for the Liberty bust undoubtedly was done to increase the useful life of the dies, an ever-present concern for the infant U. S. Mint in the 1790s. The wreath, already simplified in 1794, remained essentially unchanged through the end of the series. Just two die marriages are known for the 1795 half cent with lettered edge. One of these obverse dies was transitional with the subsequent plain edge varieties, and it is easily recognized by the comma-like flaw between numerals 1 and 7 (C-2, the Punctuated Date). The other has a normal date. The original weight standard of 104 grains for the half cent survived until December of 1795, when the rising price of copper forced a reduction to 84 grains. This resulted in thinner planchets that no longer allowed for edge lettering. As there was little danger of copper coins being clipped in an effort to steal a bit of copper, the loss of this lettering had no lasting impact.

Price Guide

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Census

NGC Grade Summary
  • Total Graded: 85
  • Low Grade: PrAg
  • Average Grade: VF
  • High Grade: 64
Created with Highcharts 5.0.1411010161945214302611PrAgGVGFVF40455053555860616263640510152025
NGC Census Detail
1795 LETTER EDGE 1/2C MS BN Last updated 04/02/2025
 
BASE
TOTAL
 
PrAgGVGFVF4045505355586061626364656667686970 TOTAL
11010161945214302611000000 85
0000000000000000000000 0
0000000000000000000000 0
0000000000000000000000 0
1 10 10 16 19 4 5 2 1 4 3 0 2 6 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 85
1%12%12%19%22%5%6%2%1%5%4%0%2%7%1%1%0%0%0%0%0%0%
NGC US Coin Census >

NGC Registry

NGC Registry Score
1795 LETTER EDGE 1/2C MS BN
 
BASE
PrAgGVGFVF4045505355586061626364656667686970
1,219 1,239 1,658 2,106 2,807 3,817 4,431 4,935 5,158 5,563 6,007 6,248 6,400 7,045 8,727 10,372 10,788 15,252 21,253 
1,226 1,379 1,807 2,340 3,144 4,022 4,599 5,009 5,293 5,711 6,087 6,299 6,615 7,606 9,275 10,511 12,276 17,252 21,253 
4,599 5,009 5,293 5,711 6,087 6,299 6,615 7,606 9,275 10,511 12,276 17,252 21,253 
4,767 5,084 5,428 5,859 6,168 6,349 6,830 8,166 9,824 10,649 13,764 19,253 21,253