Undated (1795) Liberty and Security Penny. Musante GW-45, Baker-30, W-11050. Copper. Lettered Edge. MS-62 BN (PCGS).

Predominantly golden-brown in tone, both sides reveal intermingled steel-gray highlights, as well as considerable bright mint color in the protected areas around the peripheral design elements. The strike is sharp for the type with most design elements crisp, and none less than boldly defined. Satiny and smooth in hand with some claim to a Choice Mint State grade. Breen surmised that this Liberty and Security issue made by Peter Kempson in 1795 was a speculative attempt to land a coinage contract at a time when the fledgling U.S. Mint was foundering, though no specific information exists to substantiate this theory. Now mostly hidden from view in slabs, the edges of these Washington pieces can be fascinating. Here the edge is visible and reads AN ASYLUM FOR THE OPPRESS'D OF ALL NATIONS, an interesting motto given the politics of today.