1797 Reverse of 1795

The 1797 Draped Bust cent with a Reverse of 1795 uses a reverse die that predates the obverse by two years. The 1795-style reverse has a distinctive wreath and lettering arrangement that specialists identify through reference comparison with known die types. The Mint's practice of reusing reverse dies meant that coins from any given year might carry a reverse several years older than the obverse.

The 1797 date is early in the Draped Bust series, and the Mint was still drawing on its inventory of Liberty Cap-era reverse dies. The 1795 reverse on a 1797 obverse represents one of these cross-era pairings. For variety collectors, the reverse type creates a separate catalog entry; for date collectors, it is an interesting footnote to the coin's identity.

Surviving examples are available in the grade ranges typical of late-1790s copper. Good to Fine is the standard, with higher grades becoming progressively scarcer. The coin circulated alongside other 1797 large cents, and the reverse type did not affect its purchasing power or its wear pattern.