1795 Flowing Hair Half Dollar. O-126a, T-22. Rarity-4+. Small Head, Two Leaves. AU Details--Tooled (PCGS).With plenty of bold to sharp detail remaining from an ideally centered strike, this is an uncommonly appealing example of the 1795 Small Head half dollar despite the stated qualifier. Tooling is minimal, in fact, a concentration of light hairlines in the right obverse field well concealed by the toning. And attractively toned both sides are, dominant olive and pewter-gray patina giving way to iridescent pinkish-silver, champagne-apricot and cobalt blue as the surfaces dip into a light. Direct lighting also calls forth ample evidence of a bright satin to semi-prooflike finish from the dies. The high points of the eagle on the reverse are softly struck, typical of the variety, but there is little wear and, apart from the aforementioned light tooling, no blemishes of note. In sum, there is a lot of "coin" here relative to the assigned grade, especially in a survivor of this scarce and eagerly sought variety. Tompkins Die Stage 1/2.<p>Three distinct die marriages comprise the Small Head subtype of the 1795 half dollar that features a smaller bust of Liberty; O-126(a), O-127(a), and O-128. Each variety employs a unique obverse die, which were most likely made by assistant engraver John Smith Gardner from an obverse hub prepared by Chief Engraver Robert Scot. Overton-126a, represented here, is the late state of O-126 and identifiable by a light reverse die crack from the border outside the letters ED in UNITED to the border below the left ribbon end that forms a retained cud. This is a conditionally challenging die state with most survivors grading no finer than VF. A handful of About Uncirculated coins are known, nonetheless, the present example a newcomer to the Condition Census and unlisted in the Spring 2019 revision to Stephen J. Herrmans <em>Auction & Mail Bid Prices Realized for Bust Half Dollars: 1794-1839</em>. We have been privileged to offer several other Condition Census examples of the 1795 O-126a variety in recent decades, including the PCGS MS-62 Lord St. Oswald-Pogue specimen, the "Col." Green-F.C.C. Boyd coin in NGC AU-58, and the Queller specimen (later certified AU-55 Details by ANACS). A lustrous AU with attractive toning, the present example is sure to sell for a premium bid to a sharp-eyed early half dollar variety specialist.From the E. Horatio Morgan Collection.