1795 1/2C PE Punctuated Date, BN (Regular Strike)
Series: Liberty Cap Right Half Cents 1794-1797
PCGS MS63+BN
PCGS AU55BN
- PCGS #:
- 1012
- Designer:
- John Smith Gardner
- Edge:
- Plain
- Diameter:
- 23.50 millimeters
- Weight:
- 5.44 grams
- Mintage:
- 139,690
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- Copper
- Auction Record:
- $38,400 • MS62BN • 03-25-2020 • Stack's Bowers
Major Varieties
- 1795 1/2C Lettered Edge, BN
- 1795 1/2C Lettered Edge, RB
- 1795 1/2C Lettered Edge, RD
- 1795 1/2C LE Punctuated Date, BN
- 1795 1/2C LE Punctuated Date, RB
- 1795 1/2C LE Punctuated Date, RD
- 1795 1/2C PE Punctuated Date, BN
- 1795 1/2C PE Punctuated Date, RB
- 1795 1/2C PE Punctuated Date, RD
- 1795 1/2C Plain Edge, No Pole, BN
- 1795 1/2C Plain Edge, No Pole, RB
- 1795 1/2C Plain Edge, No Pole, RD
Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More
| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 250 |
| 60 or Better | 2 |
| 65 or Better | |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-6.6 |
| 60 or Better | R-9.9 |
| 65 or Better | R-10.1 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 8 / 11 |
| 60 or Better | 1 / 11 TIE |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 11 |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 8 / 14 |
| 60 or Better | 1 / 14 TIE |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 14 |
Condition Census What Is This?
|
#1 MS62BN PCGS grade
Cohen 4. ESM Collection |
|
#2 AU58 estimated grade
Cohen 4. American Numismatic Rarities 7/2003:89, not sold |
| #3 AU55 PCGS grade |
| #4 XF40 PCGS grade |
| #4 XF40 PCGS grade |
| #6 VF35 PCGS grade |
| #6 VF35 PCGS grade |
| #6 VF35 PCGS grade |
| #6 VF35 PCGS grade |
The "punctuation" on Punctuated Date 1795 Half Cents looks like a long comma between the 1 and the 7 of the date. While this seems like a perfectly normal place for punctuation, the "comma" was purely unintentional and is merely a die defect. The "comma" appears on the following 1795 die varieties:
Cohen 2a - Lettered Edge Cohen 2b - Plain Edge Cohen 3 - Plain Edge Cohen 4 - Plain Edge
Only the Cohen 2b, 3, and 4 varieties qualify as the Punctuated Date, Plain Edge varieties.
As can be seen above, the Cohen 2 variety bridged the transition from heavy weight (104 grains) to light weight (84 grains) planchets following a change in the law designed to reduce the cost of making Half Cents and Cents. The light weight planchets were too thin to received edge lettering, so they were issued with plain edges.
Sources and/or recommended reading: "American Half Cents (Second Edition" by Roger S. Cohen, Jr.