1796/5 Draped Bust Half Dime. LM-2. Rarity-6. AU-53 (NGC).A pleasing and exceptionally well-preserved example of this rare issue. Dark slate--grey patina dusts the surfaces and reveals a faint golden iridescence beneath alight source. The strike is nicely centered on each side and remarkably sharp across the focal points. A few minor marks remain in the fields but the overall complexion is smooth. The 6 over 5 overdate is one of the toughest die marriages in this challenging series, the obverse die and reverse die were retired after this use, the reverse for the edge cud that appears and bisecting die crack, the obverse for unknown reasons. This is the only other appearance of a 1795 dated obverse with the Draped Bust design besides the silver dollars that initially launched this new design, of course none were struck prior to the obverse die being overdated. Destined to be a highlight in an advanced early American coinage set.
