Elite Recommendations: Form a basic type set in the highest
grades generally available. These grades will vary from series to series, thus I
can make no across-the-board statement. A few examples of realistically
obtainable high grades: 1652 Massachusetts Pine tree shilling, AU-55; 1737
Higley threepence, VG-8 to F-12; 1785-6 Vermont "landscape type"
copper, EF-40 or better; 1788 Massachusetts 1c, MS-60; 1787 Fugio cent, MS-63.
Such a high grade collection is recommended, for investors have not
significantly skewed the market for early colonial and state coins, and a
high-grade collection put together with care will undoubtedly reward its owner
well.
Half Cents (1793-1857)
Early types: Half cents represent the smallest denomination
ever produced by the United States government. First struck in 1793, these small
copper coins were minted through 1857, but not continuously. Many gaps exist in
the series.
The first half cents made their appearance in 1793. These
coins, rare today, are of the Liberty Cap type and feature Miss Liberty facing
to the observer's left, with a cap on pole behind her head. The motif is taken
from the famous Libertas Americana medal struck in France, and was also used on
one-cent pieces of the 1793-1796 period (but with Miss Liberty facing right).
The denomination is expressed two ways on early half cents; as a fraction,
1/200, and as lettering on the edge: TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR.
In 1794 the Liberty Cap design was modified, with Miss
Liberty facing to the right. The head on 1794 half cents is quite large in
proportion to the surrounding field.
This design was continued through 1797, although pieces
dated from 1795 onward have Miss Liberty's portrait proportionately smaller than
in 1794. Two major rarities were produced during this time, the 1796 with pole
to cap and a curious and even rarer 1796 variety in which, due to an engraving
error, the pole was omitted.
