USA ½ dollar Draped Bust Half Dollar 1796
USA, Philadelphia
Rarity
Extremely Rare
Attributes of Coins
| Region | USA |
|---|---|
| Denomination | ½ dollar |
| Krause number | KM# 26 |
| Mintage | 934 |
| Metal | Silver 0.893 |
| diameter | 32.5 mm |
| weight | 13.48 g |
Obverse:
Liberty
Star
Creators:
Robert Scot
LIBERTY
Reverse:
Bird
Creators:
Robert Scot
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Introduction of Coins
It is presumed that this obverse die bearing 16 stars was prepared following the admission of Tennessee as the 16th state in June, 1796. The other possibility is that it was retrofitted with an additional star when finally needed for use the following year. In the absence of documentation, the truth may never be known. In any case, this obverse was paired with the same reverse die used for Overton-101 and, later, for 1797 O-101. The 16-star variety is slightly more scarce than the 15-star coins. This is of little consequence, however, since the majority of buyers are seeking a single type coin. Collectors of these coins by date and variety are a small group, though perhaps larger than for any of the other silver denominations. Whatever their motivation, buyers will find that both varieties are scarce and expensive across all grades. The majority of surviving pieces, which number somewhere around 4-5 dozen, are well circulated. As with O-101, however, their value was recognized early enough for more to be saved than the small production would suggest. Typical grades are in the VG-VF range. Most pieces were well struck, though many have suffered damage of one sort or another, and/or improper cleaning.Read More
