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1796 50C 16 Stars--Damaged--ANACS. VF20 Details. O-102 1796[50C] 16 Stars--Damaged--ANACS. VF20 Deta

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:22,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1796 50C 16 Stars--Damaged--ANACS. VF20 Details. O-102 1796[50C] 16 Stars--Damaged--ANACS. VF20 Deta
<B>1796<50C> 16 Stars--Damaged--ANACS. VF20 Details.</B></I> O-102, High R.5. The 1796 Overton 102 half dollar bears 16 obverse stars, unlike the three other varieties of this Draped Bust Small Eagle design type that consist of 15 stars. The 16 star variety apparently commemorated Tennessee's June 1, 1796 admission to the Union as the 16th state. While the 16 stars die may have been made prior to this date, Mint records indicate that all Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars were delivered in 1797 (February 28, March 21, and May 26). Breen (1988) theorizes that 16 star specimens were included in the March and May deliveries.<BR> Interestingly, the specimen offered in this lot does not exhibit the typically seen heavy die crack from the milling between the date and star 1 that goes on to join the first four stars. Most known 16 star examples display this crack. The toning on this coin is a gray-mauve, that is joined by cobalt-blue and faded yellow-gold in the central obverse fields and portions of the reverse peripheral fields. The design elements are nicely centered on the planchet, and the dentilation on both sides is bold. Good definition is apparent in Liberty's hair, and about one-half of the eagle's feathers show. The surfaces are quite clean for the grade, save for a mark to the right of Liberty's chin, and four moderate-size digs on the right reverse, one of which partially obliterates the F of OF and the adjacent leaf. No adjustment marks are evident.<BR> Despite the impairments, which sound worse than they really are, this piece will fit comfortably into a mid-grade type set. Indeed, we expect spirited bidding on this rare two-year type coin, an example of which is needed to complete a type collection of U.S. coins.