Catalogue information

LastDodo number
10288673
Area
Tokens / Medals
Title
Verenigde Staten ½ cent 1796 (Edwards copy)
Year
1796
Material
Weight
Variety / overstrike
Edwards copy
Obverse
LIBERTY 1796
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HALF CENT 1 - 200
Privy mark
Designer
Engraver
Dimensions / Diameter
23.5
Number
Details
t is believed that the Edwards copies were produced in the mid-1860s, either in London or New York. Breen notes that "the origin of this copy has been kept obscure." He points out that the first auction appearance was in W. Elliot Woodward's April 1866 sale, lot 944. It is thought that the copies were produced by Dr. Francis S. Edwards, based on contemporary commentary of E.J. Attinelli, who said "to him was attributed the appearance of several counterfeit pieces of rare American coins and medals." In his Half Cent Encyclopedia, Breen described 10 distinct examples in his Condition Census for the variety. Half a dozen years later, R. Tettenhorst described four additional pieces that had appeared since Breen's reference was published. He also noted duplications in Breen's roster, and remarked that one of those in the earlier list is actually an electrotype of the Edward's copy. Among the new pieces was one described as "Uncirculated, with some red. In the possession of a Pennsylvania dealer in the summer of 1982."