1796 Draped Bust Half Dollar. Small Eagle. O-101, T-1. Rarity-5-. 15 Stars. VF-30 (PCGS). OGH.This handsome mid grade example exhibits dominant pearl gray patina that blends with bolder steel-olive toning around the obverse periphery and in the protected areas outlining the reverse devices. Pretty pinkish-apricot and blue-gray undertones are also evident as the surfaces dip into a light. Well centered on the planchet, the strike imparted uniformly denticulated borders around both sides. Boldly defined overall, considerable sharpness of detail remains to Libertys hair strands and the eagles wing feathers. A few wispy handling marks are commensurate with the assigned grade, the in hand appearance pleasingly smooth for a moderately circulated survivor of this challenging early U.S. Mint design type. A minor planchet flaw at 12 oclock on the obverse border is as made and serves as a useful provenance marker. Tompkins Die Stage 5/1.<p>Thanks primarily to the inclusion of the fabulous E. Horatio Morgan Collection, we are amazed to be offering multiple examples of the normally elusive Draped Bust, Small Eagle half dollar in this sale. All four die marriages of this type are represented, the 1796 Overton-101 by no fewer than three (!) different coins. In attractive Choice Very Fine preservation, the example offered here is sure to find many willing buyers among advanced type collectors and early half dollar enthusiasts.From B. Max Mehls sale of the James Ten Eyck Collection, May 1922, lot 432; our (Stacks) sale of the James A. Stack Collection of U.S. Quarters and Half Dollars, March 1975, lot 314; Superiors Moreira Collection Sale, Part III, January 1989, lot 4418; our (Bowers and Merenas) Witham and Sansoucy Collections sale, lot 1034.
