5224

1797 50C XF45 NGC. O-101a, High R.4. The 1797 half dol

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1797 50C XF45 NGC. O-101a, High R.4. The 1797 half dol
<B>1797<50C> XF45 NGC.</B></I> O-101a, High R.4. The 1797 half dollar, along with its 1796-dated companion, is one of the keys to the entire United States type series. This design type, which consists of a Draped Bust Liberty on the obverse and a Small Eagle on the reverse, is sometimes considered a transitional one between the Flowing Hair motif on the half dimes, half dollars, and dollars dated 1794 and 1795, and the Draped Bust Heraldic Eagle design on the half dimes (1800-1805), dimes (1798-1807), quarters (1804-1807), half dollars (1801-1807), and dollars (1798-1803).<BR> The Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar series was produced with three obverse and two reverse dies. The first reverse die was paired with all three obverse dies (1796 15 stars, 1796 16 stars, and 1797). During its use with the 1797 obverse, it developed numerous cracks, and was replaced with a new reverse die. The coin presented in this lot exhibits the cracked reverse. A prominent crack travels from the upper part of the eagle's right (left facing) wing, through the leaves, to the rim at 10 o'clock. Another crack extends from this one through the bases of the ST in STATES, where it makes a right turn and goes through the leaf beneath the T, then to the eagle's neck. Another crack from the rim travels through the right side of the O in OF and crosses the palm leaves to the lower part of the left (right facing) wing. A very faint crack connects the right leg to the adjacent wing. A crack that is often seen connecting the lower part of the left wing to the left talon is not clearly visible on this particular coin.<BR> This Choice XF example displays pleasing light silver-gray patination imbued with traces of gold-beige and powder-blue. The design elements retain nice detail, with most of Liberty's hair strands and the eagle's wing feathers showing; the eagle's torso, legs, and neck are somewhat smoo