6159

1796[50C] 16 Stars Fine Details, Plugged, NCS.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1796[50C] 16 Stars Fine Details, Plugged, NCS.
<B>1796<50C> 16 Stars Fine Details, Plugged, NCS.</B></I> O-102, R.6. The Draped Bust half dollar with a Small Eagle reverse bears the dates 1796 and 1797, with each date consisting of two varieties. The first variety of the 1796 issue has 15 obverse stars (Overton 101), while the second variety has 16 stars (Overton 102). The 16 star variety apparently commemorated Tennessee's June 1, 1796 admission to the Union as the 16th state. It is interesting to note, however, that while the dies may have been prepared prior to this date, Mint records indicate that the first Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars were not delivered by the Chief Coiner until February 28, 1797. Breen speculates that, for the Tennessee celebrations, the 16-star die was used for a few prooflike presentation strikings, but not recorded as regular coinage. The present 16 star example is nicely centered, and has full Fine details, which are most notable on the obverse. Some of the reverse lettering along the right and left borders is worn smooth. The surfaces are unnaturally bright and moderately hairlined, but are retoning light gray and sky blue. A few light scratches are also noted on each side. The coin has been plugged at about 12 o'clock on the obverse, and some of the letters in LIBERTY have been reengraved (on the reverse, the last A of AMERICA and the fraction have also been reengraved). These same areas have also been extensively tooled. With only 3,918 Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars produced, and less than 300 estimated to have survived the ravages of time, even impaired specimens such as this one are in demand.<BR><I>From The Paulsboro Collection, Part Three.</B></I> <BR><BR><B>Important notice:</B> Heritage usually auctions material at the rate of 200-250 lots per hour. On some occasions eBay Live bid software or the Internet may not be able to keep up with the pace of the auction. We recommend placing a realistic absentee bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Occasionally the auctioneer may eliminate or reject an eBay Live bid, and the auctioneer may also reopen a lot after the close of the eBay live bidding (usually because we missed an audience bid), and may reject your bid even if it shows you as the winning bidder. By bidding via eBay Live, you agree that Heritage may award the lot to another bidder at its sole discretion under the circumstances described above or any other reasonable circumstances. Since eBay bids are not shown to us until we open the lot on the floor, we treat those bids just like floor bids. In most cases the floor responds before the eBay bid is presented to us, due to Internet lag time, so for consistency we have made it a policy that floor bids are always considered first over tie eBay live bids. Also please note that all Heritage lots purchased through eBay Live carry a 20% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions before you bid. </span></font></tr></table></td></tr></table>