1797 Plain Edge 1/2C NGC Fine Details Corrosion

Key Features:

• Year: 1797
• Denomination: Half Cent
• Edge: Plain (smooth, with no lettering or reeding)
• Grade: Fine Details (NGC)
• Condition Note: Corrosion (surface imperfections due to environmental factors)

Design:

• Obverse: Features the Liberty Cap design, with Liberty facing right, adorned with a soft cap (Phrygian cap), a symbol of freedom. The word “LIBERTY” appears above, and the date “1797” is seen at the bottom.
• Reverse: Shows a laurel wreath encircling the words “HALF CENT.” The denomination is clearly stated within the wreath, while “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” surrounds it.

Importance:

The 1797 half cent, with its Plain Edge variety, is one of the rare and highly collectible coins from the Liberty Cap series, which ran from 1793 to 1797. Though this particular coin has corrosion, reducing its visual appeal, it remains valuable due to its age and historical context.

Collectors seek this coin for its rarity and its role in early U.S. minting history, with its flaws serving as a testament to its survival through centuries of circulation and environmental exposure.