1795 Talbot, Allum & Lee Cent. Fuld-1, W-8620. Rarity-1. Lettered Edge: WE PROMISE TO PAY THE BEARER ONE CENT. MS-64 BN (PCGS).

A beautiful example that exhibits a smooth, hard, frosty texture to surfaces that reveal no singularly distracting blemishes. Quite smooth overall, in fact, with glints of olive and flint-gray to otherwise dominant medium brown patina. Fully defined with strong eye appeal, this is a highly appealing Choice-quality example of the type. The partnership of Talbot, Allum & Lee, formed in 1794 and operated only until 1796, was composed of William Talbot, William Allum, and James Lee, who engaged in the India trade in lower Manhattan at 241 Pearl Street. Tokens dated 1794 and 1795, bearing the standing figure of Commerce on the obverse and a fully rigged sailing ship on the reverse, were struck in Birmingham and imported into America. On this side of the Atlantic they were sufficiently plentiful at one time that the Philadelphia Mint gathered examples and cut planchets for half cents from them, such half cent emissions being dated 1795 and 1797. For extensive information see Q. David Bowers, The Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins.

PCGS# 640. NGC ID: 2B64.

From the George Collection.

Estimate: $1000