1795 C-6a R-2 Liberty Cap Half Cent Coin 1/2c Ex; Davy

Description

Struck on a 1794 Talbot Allum & Lee Cent with Two Indents. VG sharpness with extremely fine roughness under a glossy olive brown and chocolate patina. No verdigris, and the only marks are a very tiny rim bruise at Y in LIBERTY and another at TE in UNITED. Struck on a 1794 Talbot Allum & Lee Cent that has "RE" on the edge from "STORE" (PAYABLE AT THE STORE OF) on the edge of the host TAL planchet. In addition there are two indents. The one before the portrait is large and displays strong design details of undetermined origin. This large indent and the smaller one at the top of the reverse both contain dentil indents (brockage impressions of dentils). Some have suggested these were created when the TAL planchets accidentally overlapped as they passed through rollers used to reduce their thickness before punching out the half cent planchets. However, Breen speculated that the planchets were not rolled before cutting out the smaller planchets (his encyclopedia, page 468). Other experts, including Eric Newman, subscribe to the overlapping planchet theory. The thickness of the half cent planchets is certainly less than the thickness of a normal TAL Cent, so the roller idea makes sense. Perhaps some were rolled and some were not. The design in the indent, strong as it is, doesn't offer an easy answer. Regardless, this is a very interesting and mentally challenging half cent. Weight 80.4 grains.
Year - 1795
Variety - C-6a
Rarity - 2