1797 Draped Bust Half Dollar. O-101a, T-1. Rarity-4+. AU Details--Improperly Cleaned (NGC).This piece is a truly significant opportunity for half dollar specialists, offering a combination of rarity and provenance that is seldom encountered. The surfaces exhibit Condition Census sharpness, with just a trace of friction across the highest points. A blend of bronze, olive, and navy hues dominate the patina, while glints of dove-grey reveal themselves in select areas. Any indications of the suggested cleaning are trivial and the eye appeal remains strong. The right obverse stars show an isolated softness that is typical of the variety, which is also echoed correspondingly at AMERICA on the reverse. The balance of the design elements are sharply defined, even in light of this late die state, equivalent to Tompkins Die Stage 4/4. The reverse die is now shattered, showing a network of cracks radiating from the eagle through the legends to the rim. Evidence of planchet adjustment at Libertys hair and pair of small marks at star 9 allow for convenient plate-matching and pedigree tracing as this piece undoubtedly passes into future significant cabinets. We can trace the first appearance of this example back nearly a century to May 1922, when it was offered as part of B. Max Mehls legendary sale of the James Ten Eyck Collection. This auction was among the most noteworthy numismatic events of the era, featuring, among other rarities, an 1804 dollar and two Brasher doubloons. The present 1797 half dollar was plated in lot 433 with a grade of "Practically uncirculated." Mehl noted that "only the highest points show slight circulation or probably cabinet friction." and that it was "one of the finest specimens of this date that I have ever handled. "This piece seemingly drew the attention of several noteworthy numismatists, passing through the hands of Waldo Newcomer and "Colonel" E.H.R. Green after the Mehl auction and eventually wound up in the famed collection of T. James Clarke. Clarke was more widely known for his impressive taste in large cents, though his cabinet of early half dollars included many finest known and condition census examples. Upon his death, the Clarke estate was consigned by Clarkes widow to New Netherlands Coin Companys 47th Sale of April 1956, where this piece was called "just about Uncirculated" in lot 1196. We first handled this piece almost a decade ago as part of our March 2010 Baltimore auction and are pleased to be offering this important rarity once again. From the Collection of Thaddeus A. Tatum III. Earlier ex B. Max Mehls sale of the James Ten Eyck Collection, May 1922, lot 433; Waldo Newcomer; "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; New Netherlands sale of the T. James Clarke Collection, April, 1956, lot 1196; Heritages sale of January 2007, lot 957; our (Bowers and Merenas) Baltimore Auction of March 2010, lot 808; our (Stacks) Nashville Sale of May 2010, lot 4145; our (Bowers and Merenas) Boston Rarities Sale of August 2010, lot 515; Heritages sale of January 2011, lot 5542.
