1796 50C 15 Stars VF25 PCGS. O-101, R.5. Following a relatively plentiful production for the 1795 Flowing Hair half dollar,...

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Sharp Very Fine 1796 15 Stars Half Dollar

1796 50C 15 Stars VF25 PCGS. O-101, R.5. Following a relatively plentiful production for the 1795 Flowing Hair half dollar, mintages of the 1796 and 1797 issues totalled only 3,918 pieces. As was the case with the half dime, dime, quarter, and silver dollar (all of which were also struck in 1796), the 1796 half dollar bore a new Draped Bust design. 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. Guide Book and die variety demand is also significant. Undoubtedly, silver depositors preferred the more convenient silver dollar, and this favoritism led to the relative rarity of half dollars until production of the silver dollar ceased in 1804. Unlike the other silver denominations for 1796, the half dollar bore a denomination as part of its design. The fraction 1/2 is placed on the reverse exergue, the same location as on contemporary half cents and cents.
This is a pleasing example of the much-coveted type. Ocean-blue shades embrace the fields, while the lightly toned devices are pearl-gray. This mid-grade example is sharp for its designated grade, since the denticles are individually distinctive, and Liberty's hair and the eagle's wings exhibit rich inner detail. There are no individual marks worthy of discussion, although the right obverse field has a few tiny ticks, and both sides have the occasional small abrasion that is only apparent when the piece is inspected at length beneath a loupe. As seen on most survivors of the O-101 marriage, a die crack begins at the rim near 3:30 and reaches star 13, then continues down across the curve of an inner drapery fold, with a bold branch crack to 5 o'clock. A second arc-shaped die crack is noted across Liberty's lower back neck. This die crack is not mentioned in the standard Overton reference (his son-in-law Donald L. Parsley is listed as the author for the recently published Fourth Edition), but is visible on his plate coin for O-101. Encapsulated in a green label PCGS holder.

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

Metal: 89.24% Silver, 10.76% Copper
Weight: 13.48 grams
ASW: 0.38676oz
Mintage: 3,918

View Certification Details from PCGS