In the summer of 1793, and for many summers to follow, yellow fever arrived at the port city of Philadelphia from the Caribbean area. Indeed, in early September 1793 the fever took the life of Joseph Wright, the talented young mint engraver whose Large Cent design of 1793 is considered among the most beautiful representations of Liberty ever conceived for the coinage. The wealthy were able to escape the fever by leaving for summer retreats outside the city limits, but the rest of the population suffered. As a consequence, mint employees unable to leave their posts frequently sickened and died; more than half a dozen key employees did so in the first few years of mint operations. However, by 1796 the mint had more than yellow fever to worry about. Congressional opponents favored the repeal of the Act of April 2, 1792, which had established the institution; they favored a return to contract coinage with private mints in England. If that were not enough, bullion was scarce and foreign coins remained legal tender, giving little incentive for a national coinage. The copper gears in the mint machinery gave out repeatedly, and quality steel for dies was unavailable locally. Steel ordered from England was often of inferior quality, splitting and cracking continuously. The mint even resorted to striking Half-Cents on cut-down English tokens imported from the mercantile firm of Talbot, Allum & Lee in New York City, as well as on "spoiled" Large Cents. Given all these circumstances, it is remarkable that any Half-Cents at all were coined in 1796.