1795 Talbot Allum & Lee - Twin Leaf Edge Cent

Coin Details

Description

Issued by the New York mercantile firm of Talbot, Allum & Lee in 1795, this copper cent features twin leaf edge ornamentation — paired leaf motifs applied through a specialized collar during striking. Cataloged as Whitman 8635, the obverse depicts a standing figure of Commerce holding a ship's mast with the firm's name and date, while the reverse shows a sailing ship referencing the company's East Indies trade. Struck in copper at 10.5 grams with a 29 mm diameter, these tokens were produced at the Boulton & Watt Soho Mint in Birmingham, England — the most advanced coining facility of the era. The twin leaf edge distinguishes this variety from lettered and plain edge versions. Talbot, Allum & Lee tokens circulated widely as unofficial cents in New York's commercial districts when the fledgling U.S. Mint could not produce sufficient copper coinage. Their high production quality reflects Matthew Boulton's steam-powered presses, and the distinctive twin leaf edge makes this variety immediately identifiable without examining either face.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Distinctive edge variety.

Cross References

Whitman 8635