1796 50C 16 Stars MS(PCGS#6058)

Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auktionator

Stack's Bowers

Losnummer

2087

Erhaltungsgrad

VG8

Preis

40.260

Losbeschreibung

Amato 253. Tompkins Die Stage 5/3. Handsome steely charcoal-gray patina with a trace olive. Well circulated, but essentially unmarked by the rigors of a lengthy stay in circulation. The right reverse periphery is worn nearly smooth, but all other areas retain bold outline detail to the major design elements.<p>Although composed of coins dated 1796 and 1797, the Draped Bust, Small Eagle half dollar series was issued for just one year. Only 3,918 examples were delivered in four warrants from February 28 to May 26, 1797. Today, probably no more than 300 half dollars of this challenging design type can be accounted for, signifying a survival rate of less than 10%. Subsequent to 1797 no half dollars were minted until 1801, at which time the Heraldic Eagle design was adopted for the reverse. The 1796 O-102 16 Stars variety is the scarcest in this series with most survivors well worn, as here. Of course, the brevity and scarcity of this design type assures that all examples of this die marriage are eagerly sought by type collectors as well as early half dollar specialists.