1795 Liberty & Security - London Edge Half Penny

Coin Details

Description

Cataloged as Baker 31D, Musante GW-44, and Whitman 10840, the 1795 Washington Liberty & Security halfpenny with London edge inscription is one of three distinct edge varieties produced for this popular token type. The edge lettering referencing London identifies the specific distribution channel or manufacturing origin, connecting this piece to London-based merchants or token manufacturers who supplied the American market with Washington-themed pieces during the 1790s. The obverse features Washington's bust accompanied by the legend LIBERTY AND SECURITY — a pairing of two foundational American values with the image of the man most associated with securing them through military and political leadership. The reverse displays a heraldic design consistent with the broader Liberty & Security token series. The London edge is one of three edge treatments found on this halfpenny type, alongside the ASYLUM edge (reading AN ASYLUM FOR THE OPPRESSED OF ALL NATIONS) and the plain edge, each variant providing evidence of different production runs or distribution channels. Scarce within the series, the London edge is moderately rare, suggesting a more limited production run associated with British commercial networks. Washington halfpenny tokens with the Liberty and Security motif represent the intersection of political commemoration and commercial enterprise that characterized late 18th-century token production, when copper shortages and the absence of official small change created a ready market for privately produced pieces.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. The London edge is moderately rare within the series.

Cross References

Baker 31D; Musante GW-44; Whitman 10840