1795 1/2D Liberty and Security Birmingham, GW-48, BN (Regular Strike)

The 1795 Washington Liberty & Security Halfpennies were struck in England for sale to collectors there and in America. As such they straddle two different collecting areas: Washingtonia and British Conder tokens. This variant has edge lettering that reads BIRMINGHAM, REDRUTH & SWANSEA (places where the coins could have been redeemed). Of the three edge lettering varieties of this type, this is the second most common, after the so-called LONDON edge. Russ Rulau, following Baker's numbering scheme, assigned this Baker #31B.

Rulau called this Rarity 5 (75 to 199 known), which fits well with the populations reported by PCGS and NGC. Mint State examples are decidedly rare. The strike quality of this coin is poor; we have never seen a fully struck example. Most are weak on the front of Washington's face, the eagle's breast, and on the lower left shield. The best examples seen by PCGS top out at MS63. No example has yet been colorful enough to earn either a Red-Brown or Red designation.