1797 Low Head, Lettered Edge, B-3a, C-3b -- Struck over a 1797 Cent -- VG10 PCGS. Our EAC Grade VG10....

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1797 B-3a, C-3b Half Cent, VG10
Lettered Edge
Struck Over a 1797 Cent

1797 Low Head, Lettered Edge, B-3a, C-3b -- Struck over a 1797 Cent -- VG10 PCGS. Our EAC Grade VG10. Equivalents. Proskey 1: 1-A; Ross 1-A; Gilbert-1; Empire-22; Cohen-3b; Breen-3a; Eckberg 3-B.
Obverse 3 is unique to Breen-3. The "Low Head" is immediately identified as the date is crowded between Liberty and the border. The word LIBERTY is close to the border and far from the head. The letters are well spaced although TY are slightly close. The pole is long and thin, ending close to the border.
Reverse B is unique to Breen-3. Both branches have 17 leaves with four berries left and three right. A leaf triplet below ME of AMERICA is not seen on any other reverse of the type. The legend is very poorly spaced with UN nearly joined. The fraction is low with the longest fraction bar of any reverse die from 1795 to 1797, covering the entire denominator.
Edge. Lettered TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR. The lettering differs from any used in 1793, 1794, or 1795. There is no additional ornamentation.
Surfaces. A smooth tan and light brown example, this 1797 Lettered Edge half cent shows only a few insignificant marks on each side. The arcing denticles from the undertype should not be confused with the inconsequential post-strike handling marks.
Die State. Manley Die State 1.0, or perhaps earlier. There is no evidence of the die crack through the E in UNITED that Manley describes for the earliest die state.

Production. An off-center 1797 large cent from unidentified dies was earmarked at the Mint as a piece that should not be distributed. That cent was cut-down to half cent size and used as a "planchet" for this Lettered Edge 1797 half cent. The cut-down copper was run through the edge lettering machine (commonly called the Castaing Machine) and then was struck with the 1797 Low Head dies.
Commentary. The "97" from the large cent is clearly visible in the right obverse field between Liberty's nose and the border. Five border denticles are visible below the 97. "OF" from the large cent reverse is visible near the top right branch of the wreath, with eight border denticles visible over those letters. Comparison with 1797 large cent varieties has not yielded an attribution for the undertype.
McGuigan Commentary. Choice glossy light brown planchet. Struck over a misstruck, cut down 1797 large cent. On the obverse, the "97" of the large cent date is visible in the right obverse field, along with a semicircular row of denticles from the rim at 6:00, continuing through the date, then through the neck and face of Liberty, and to the rim at 2:00.
Provenance. Ex: Alan Brotman; Carl Windon; Del Bland (4/1988).
Personality. Carl Verle Windon of Oakland, California, who was born in Iowa on March 31, 1904, was Early American Coppers member number 71. He and his wife, Vanda, opened their home several times in the 1970s for regional EAC gatherings. Bill Weber submitted an obituary of Windon who died at Oakland on January 8, 1988, noting: "Much credit for EAC's fine image and growth in Northern California during the 1970's and 1980's is due to Carl and Vanda for their generous hospitality and unflagging support."
From The James R. McGuigan Half Cent Collection.

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