1793 1793/2 Ship 1/2P Washington President Brass Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as Baker 18A, Musante GW-20, Whitman 10630, and PCGS #740, this 1793 Washington President Ship halfpenny in brass features the distinctive 1793/2 overdate — where the final digit of the date was re-engraved from a 2 to a 3, leaving traces of the original numeral visible beneath the correction. Struck in brass, weighing 9 grams with a 29 mm diameter and plain edge, the brass composition is considerably scarcer than the standard copper version of this type, as brass required alloying copper with zinc and was used for smaller production runs. The Ship reverse displays a three-masted sailing vessel — a design element that connects this token to maritime commerce and the transatlantic trade networks that distributed Washington-themed pieces between British manufacturers and the American market. The WASHINGTON PRESIDENT obverse legend places this piece within the group of early 1790s tokens that used Washington's presidential title, produced during the first years of his administration when his image was being commercially exploited by British token manufacturers who recognized the marketability of the American leader's portrait. The 1793/2 overdate is a die-making artifact that documents the practice of modifying existing dies to extend their useful life across multiple production years rather than cutting entirely new dies. Rare in brass composition, Ship halfpennies in this metal are considerably scarcer than their copper counterparts and command significant premiums from collectors pursuing compositional completeness in the Washington Ship halfpenny series.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Brass Ship halfpennies are considerably scarcer than copper.

Cross References

Baker 18A; Musante GW-20; Whitman 10630