1795 Flowing Hair Half Dollar. O-103a, T-29. Rarity-5. Two Leaves. VF Details--Damage (PCGS).The prominent reverse cud break at the border outside the letters AM in AMERICA quickly identifies the 1795 O-103 pairing, this break not evident in earlier uses of this reverse die in the O-104 and O-105 marriages. This die emission sequence is per Steve M. Tompkins (2015), who asserts that the cud developed as a result of the bold repunching to the letter M in AMERICA, which "caused more stress on the die in that area and led to die cracks forming." The 1795 O-103 pairing is scarce regardless of die state, the cud likely developing early in this marriage and resulting in relatively few coins being struck before the reverse was finally retired. Tompkins Die Stage 2/3.From the E. Horatio Morgan Collection. Acquired from Jonathan K. Kern, date not recorded. Company tag with attribution notation included.
