Years
Designer
Robert Scot
Composition
100% copper
Diameter
23.5 mm
Mass
6.74 g
Thickness
2 mm
Edge
Lettered, gripped, or plain
Mints
Philadelphia
Metal
Copper
Design
Liberty facing right with a pole-and-cap; reverse a laurel wreath around HALF CENT. 1796 comes with and without the pole.
History
After the one-year left-facing 1793, Scot turned Liberty to the right. These are scarce in every grade — 1796 is a stopper, with pole and no-pole varieties both rare. Planchets were often imported and poorly annealed, so weak strikes and porous surfaces are normal, not damage.
Key dates
1796-P · With pole
stopper
1796-P · No pole
stopper
4 issues