1795 Flowing Hair Half Dollar. O-106, T-30. Rarity-6. Two Leaves. VG-8 (PCGS).An otherwise silver gray example that exhibits olive-russet highlights in the protected areas around the peripheries and many of the design elements. Lightly struck along the right obverse border, stars 11 to 13 are particularly faint, yet still discernible. Most other devices are well defined for the assigned grade, even in the area of the diagnostic reverse break. With all known examples of this variety exhibiting at least some portion of the aforementioned break, it is possible that this reverse die cracked during the hardening process. In any event the break occurred early and quickly reached a terminal state, causing Mint employees to retire this reverse after few coins were struck. Survivors are rare in all grades and, although not included therein, the coin offered here ranks in the top 10 for the 1795 Overton-106 dies per the Tompkins listing (2015). Sure to see spirited bidding among advanced early half dollar variety collectors. Tompkins Die Stage 1/3.From the E. Horatio Morgan Collection.
