1806 Draped Bust Half Dollar. O-125, T-14. Rarity-5. Pointed 6, Stem Through Claw. AU-58 (PCGS).A fantastic condition rarity to represent this scarce die marriage for the 1806 Draped Bust half dollar. Both sides are richly toned throughout with particularly vivid undertones reserved for direct lighting angles. Ample evidence of a semi-prooflike finish is also evident as the coin rotates under a light. The eagles right wing and the opposing area on the obverse (around the ribbon ends) are bluntly impressed, but otherwise we note bold to sharp detail that is particularly impressive throughout Libertys hair and within the feathers of the eagles left wing. Smooth in hand, and sure to catch the eye of astute early half dollar variety enthusiasts. Tompkins Die Stage 1/3.Scarce in an absolute sense, O-125 is also a conditionally challenging variety of this issue that is currently unknown in Mint State. The Condition Census as provided by Tompkins (2015) reads: 58, 55, 50, 50, 45, 45. The present example is the finest known per the Spring 2017 revision to Stephen J. Herrmans <em>Auction & Mail Bid Prices Realized for Bust half Dollars: 1794-1839</em>, although that reference attributes this piece as O-125a while in our opinion O-125 is the more appropriate designation.From our (Stacks) sale of March 1998, lot 498; Heritages sale of the Westmoreland County Collection of Early Bust Halves, 1794-1807, January 2008, lot 1396.
