1794 H10C MS(PCGS#4250)

1794 H10C MS (PCGS#4250)

November 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Description du lot: Handsome steel and pewter gray patina greets the viewer from both sides of this overall boldly defined mid grade example. There are light scuffs to isolated high points, where wear is most extensive, but otherwise we note only wispy marks that are buried in the toning. A nice collector quality example of this historic issue.<p>Half dimes were the first denomination struck by the United States Mint. After the "small beginning" of 1792, the next issue of half dimes came a couple of years later with the Flowing Hair type designed by Robert Scot. While the dies for the 1794 half dimes were ready by year's end, they were not put into service until 1795. All told, 86,416 Flowing Hair half dimes were struck that year. In 1796, the obverse was replaced with the Draped Bust, resulting in a brief tenure for the Flowing Hair design type. The exact number of 1794-dated half dimes struck in not known with certainty. Based on orders for bullion deposits that the Mint filled, however, it is possible to estimate the mintage of this issue at 7,756 pieces, the remaining 78,660 coins struck during calendar year 1795 actually bearing that date. Four die marriages were required to strike the 1794-dated pieces, and LM-2 trails only LM-1 as the second rarest variety of the issue.