The Original Plain Edge Coin

by

Daniel Malone

The new Plain Edge or "Godless" Washington and Adams Dollar are all the rage lately, but did you know they where not the first Plain Edge coins the US has minted? Here, the author, will write about the first "No Edge Lettering" US Coin, and hope to enlighten a few on Plain Edge Varieties. 

The coin in question is a 1797 Liberty Cap, Facing Right, Half Cent, and their varieties are attributed using Cohen Variety System. The COHEN System is the most accepted method of designating or attributing a letter and number to each Half Cent variety. Some examples of how a Half Cent would be attributed is C-3a, C-1, C-5b, etc. Obviously, the C stands for COHEN and the number designates a die state.  

The man who coined the system is Roger S. Cohen, jr, in his book "American Half Cents: The Little Half Sisters". Roger Cohen is deceased but his legacy will live on every time a numismatist attributes a Half Cent variety. 

The Liberty Cap Half Cent where minted from 1794-1797, and during these times there where copper shortages. So, many of  these coins where struck over a Talbot, Allum and Lee Token, because they where a cheaper acquisition of copper. Many of the "Plain Edge" varieties are due to this overstrike, because the tokens didn't have edge lettering.  

However, in response to the copper shortage President George Washington made a Proclamation on December 27, 1795 reducing the weight of Cents and Half Cents. So, many of theses coins where made much thinner and didn't have the edge lettering. However, a total of 25,600 lettered edge Half Cents were struck during this year. It is speculated that an additional 114,090 plain edge half cents dated 1795 were struck in 1796. Obviously, this resulted in the Plain Edge Half Cents being more numerous than Lettered Edges.

Unlike today, there was no hype when someone found a Plain Edge Half Cent, because the mint planned to make these. It was more likely that someone would melt their copper coin due to the increase in copper value at the time. They where worth more for their copper content than their face value, and the reason for the aforementioned Proclamation.

A total of 8 Different Cohen Plain Edge Half Cents are recognized dated 1795 and 1797 respectively. With two more possible varieties, one for each year, according to the listings on NGC website. The COHEN numbers are as follows: 1795 C-2b, C-3, C-4, C-4 Overstruck, 1797 C-1, C-1 Overstruck, C-2, C-2 Overstruck.

Numismatist should be aware that other denominations where struck with edge lettering, Large Cents (1793-1797), Half Dollars (1794-1836), Silver Dollars (1794-1803), ST. Gaudens Double Eagles (1907-1933) to mention most of them, and there are Plain Edge Varieties to be found in the above examples. From this, it should be mentioned, that Washington and Adams Dollar Plain Edge Varieties (PEV) where not the first PEV Dollars.

Of course, the likelihood of one finding an unknown Plain Edge Type example is remote, it shouldn't prevent collectors from searching for them. Many may still be waiting to be discovered in an old and dusty box, stored in someone's attic or basement. At any rate, one can always buy rolls of  Presidential Dollar and, if your lucky, find a true Plain Edge. They don't have near the value of the original PEV coins, but can be valuable in their own right.

But remember, the next time you see a Plain Edge Half Cent, that it was a direct result of an economical circumstance that the Plain Edges where minted. Not only that, but the same person who was responsible for the existence of the Plain Edge Half Cents, is also responsible for making them popular thanks to his portrait on the 2007 Presidential Dollar.

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