1796 50C 15 Stars Fine 15 PCGS. CAC. O-101, R.5....

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1796 15 Stars O-101 Half Dollar, Fine 15
Draped Bust, Small Eagle Design
Rare Two-Year Type

1796 50C 15 Stars Fine 15 PCGS. CAC. O-101, R.5. Following a hefty production for the 1795 Flowing Hair half dollar (nearly 300,000 pieces), mintages of the 1796 and 1797 issues totaled only 3,918 coins. The 1796 half dollar bore a new Draped Bust design on the obverse. The eagle on the reverse was made a bit smaller than that on the 1795, was perched on two clouds instead of a rock, and had its wings placed entirely within the encircling wreath. The latter is now composed of a laurel branch to the left and palm leaves to the right, instead of the two laurel branches of the 1795 reverse. Unlike the other silver denominations for 1796, the half dollar bore the fraction 1/2 on the reverse exergue.
No half dollars at all were coined in 1798 through 1800, and when the denomination resumed in 1801, the Small Eagle reverse was replaced with a Heraldic Eagle. The small mintage of the 1796 and 1797 halves creates formidable demand for survivors from early silver type collectors and date/variety specialists.
The current Choice Fine 1796 15 Stars half dollar displays natural silver-gray patina imbued with occasional splashes of light violet-blue and gold. The design elements are well defined, including nice detail in the middle and lower portions of Liberty's hair and about one-third of the feathers in the eagle's wings. The dentilation shows on both sides but is stronger on the reverse. The diagnostic die crack from the rim at 5 o'clock travels to the bust, where it turns right through the drapery to stars 15, 14, and 13. Its usual connection to the rim at 3 o'clock is not readily apparent on this example. No adjustment marks are evident.
We mention some minute circulation marks solely for pedigree purposes. These include a small contact midway between star 2 and the curl, three or four minuscule marks to the right of stars 3 and 4, one on the eagle's upper breast, and another to the upper right of the ribbon extending down from the right side of the bow knot. A toning spot on the rim to the upper right of the F in OF might also help to identify the coin.
This problem-free example has considerable eye appeal for the level of wear. It is an attractive CAC-stickered piece that is housed in a green label holder. Population: 5 in 15, 32 finer (1/11).

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 24E8, PCGS# 6057, Greysheet# 6124)

Weight: 13.48 grams

Metal: 89.24% Silver, 10.76% Copper

View Certification Details from PCGS