1795 1/2P Washington-Grate Large Buttons - LE - GW-49 Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as Baker 29C, Musante GW-49, Whitman 10890, and PCGS #743, this 1795 Washington Grate halfpenny with large buttons and lettered edge represents the scarcest edge variety within the Grate halfpenny series. Struck in copper, weighing 9 grams with a 29 mm diameter, the lettered edge inscription adds meaningful text to the coin's third surface — a manufacturing feature that required a separate edge-lettering collar or Castaing machine, increasing production complexity and cost compared to the reeded and plain edge alternatives used for other Grate halfpenny variants. The large buttons on Washington's coat in the obverse portrait match the diagnostic detail found on the reeded edge large buttons variety, suggesting the same obverse die was used across both edge types, with only the collar changed between production runs. The distinctive Grate reverse — featuring the fireplace grate or iron grating design unique to this subseries of Washington tokens — pairs with the Washington portrait obverse to create one of the most visually distinctive token types in the entire Washington pieces category. Rare as the scarcest edge variety among Grate halfpennies, the lettered edge commands significant premiums over the more available reeded edge versions, reflecting both its lower survival rate and the additional manufacturing sophistication required for its production. Collectors pursuing complete edge-variety sets of the Grate halfpenny series consider the lettered edge the most challenging acquisition, as fewer examples entered commerce and correspondingly fewer survived to the present day.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Lettered edge Grate halfpennies are the scarcest edge variety.

Cross References

Baker 29C; Musante GW-49; Whitman 10890