The Draped Bust Half Dollars of 1796-1797
by Jon Amato
The Draped Bust Half Dollars of 1796-1797 by Jon Amato is the culmination of more than 10 years of research into the Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar series, one of the most coveted type coins in American numismatics and one about which remarkably little has been written.
We have set up this special page as an additional resource for the book. Here readers can view new 1796-1797 half dollar discoveries since the book's December 2012 publication, as well as the prices realized for any 1796-1797 half that has appeared at auction since the book's release. If you have a 1796-1797 half dollar that is not included in the book or on the web page, please contact Jon Amato at:
JonA@HA.com
or
424 Sand Creek Rd.
Apt. 632
Albany, NY 12205
Entry #46, July 2017
A Texas dealer submitted this Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar for listing on the on Heritage Webpage.
From a Texas Dealer, July 2017
1797, O-102
A Texas Dealer's Specimen
Grade: Fine.
Identification Markers: Obverse - A diagonal white streak (/) runs from Y across the head to star 5. A mark is visible between star 10 and the eyebrow, and another resides at the inner point of star 11.
Reverse - A mark is adjacent to the bottom-middle of the top palm leaf, another is adjacent to the top left of the leaf below, and another below the left part of that leaf. Near-horizontal adjustment marks traverse the clouds and lower-right border. Vertical file marks are seen below the right (facing) ribbon and on the 2 in the fraction.
Provenance: PCGS graded, July 2017, Genuine VG Details, Cleaned.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 528b (new number).
Entry #45, June 2017
Stack's Bowers sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar at the Baltimore Auction, June 23, 2017.
From Stack's Bowers, June 2017
1796 15 Stars, O-101
June 2017 Baltimore Sale Specimen
Grade: Very Fine obverse, Fine reverse, Scratched. Plugged, Cleaned, Smoothed.
Identification Markers: Obverse --- Plugged at 12:00. There is a mark midway between the first forehead curl from the bottom and the T, and another between the rim and bottom curl.
Reverse - Two scratches form a cross between the upper-middle palm leaf and the upper- left part of the wing.
Provenance: Baltimore Sale Specimen (Stack's Bowers, June 2017), PCGS VG Details, Repaired, lot 11142, $22,325.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 162b (new number).
Entry #44, June 2017
Heritage Auctions sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar at the Long Beach Expo, June 8, 2017.
From Heritage Auctions, June 2017
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Lot 3646 , 1796 15 Stars, O-101, NGC Fine Details, Plugged, Repaired, Price Realized: $19,975 (Coin Serial Number 158).
Entry #43, April 2017
Stack's Bowers sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar at the Baltimore Auction, March 30, 2017.
From Stack's Bowers, March 2017
1797, O-101a, Late Die State
Graywood Specimen
Grade: Fine obverse, Very Good reverse.
Identification Markers: Light diagonal adjustment marks (\\\) on hair back of Liberty's neck. Small vertical mark below right (facing) wing and left of top of palm leaf. Bottom of 2 in fraction worn smooth.
Provenance: Graywood Collection (Stack's Bowers, March 2017), NGC VG 10, lot 3053, $34,075.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 449c (new number).
Entry #42, February 2017
Heritage Auctions sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar at the Long Beach Coin Expo, February 16, 2017.
From Heritage Auctions, February 2017
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Lot 3762 , 1796 15 Stars, O-101, PCGS VF Details, Repaired, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $35,250 (Coin Serial Number 142).
Entry #41, January 2017
Heritage Auctions sold three Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars at its Fort Lauderdale, Florida FUN Auction, January 5, 2017.
From Heritage Auctions, January 2017
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Lot 5640 , 1796 15 Stars, O-101, NCS Fine Details, Plugged, Repaired, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $28,200 (Coin Serial Number 158).
From Heritage Auctions, January 2017
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Lot 5641 , 1796 15 Stars, O-101, PCGS Fine 12, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $38,775 (Coin Serial Number 162).
From Heritage Auctions, January 2017
1796 16 Stars, O-102, late die state
Lot 5642 , 1796 16 Stars, O-102, PCGS Fine 12, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $51,700 (Coin Serial Number 227a).
Entry #40, November 2016
Stack's Bowers sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar at its Baltimore Auction, November 3, 2016.
From Stack's Bowers, November 2016
1797, O-101
Lot 2084, 1797 O-101, PCGS VF 30 Secure, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $64,625 (Coin Serial Number 322a).
Entry #39, October 2016
Heritage Auctions sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar from the Walter Freeman Collection, Part I, at its Dallas, Texas sale, October 3, 2016.
From Heritage Auctions, October 2016
1797, O-101a
Lot 3118 , 1797 O-101a, PCGS Fine 15, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $44,650 (Coin Serial Number 449).
Entry #38, September 2016
Bonhams offered a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar in its Los Angeles, California auction, September 6, 2016.
From Bonhams, September 2016
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Lot 42, 1796 15 Stars, O-101, PCGS VF Details, Genuine, Repaired, price realized: did not sell (Coin Serial Number 142)
Entry #37, September 2016
Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar at the Pre Long Beach sale on September 5, 2016 at the Long Beach, California Coin Expo.
From Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, September 2016
1796 16 Stars, O-102, late die state
Lot 720, 1796 16 Stars, O-102, ICG VG 10, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $41,125 (Coin Serial Number 239).
This coin last appeared in a March 2009 Heritage Auction, lot 1913 , encapsulated in an ANACS VG 10 Details, Plugged holder (see images below), after which the plug was smoothed over on both sides and the drapery at the left (facing) breast and the adjacent dentils on each side were reengraved.
From Heritage Auctions, March 2009
Entry #36, August 2016
Stack's Bowers offered a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar at the ANA sale in Anaheim, California, August 11, 2016.
From Stack's Bowers, August 2016
1797, O-102
Lot 3117, 1797, O-102, NGC Fine 12, price realized: passed, $48,000 reserve not met (Coin Serial Number 528).
Entry #35, August 2016
Heritage Auctions sold six Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars at the ANA sale in Anaheim, California, August 10, 2016. The first five listings are from the Hamilton Collection, which is significant in including all four Overton varieties of half dollars dated 1796-1797. Only five other collections that held all four varieties are known to this author to have accomplished this challenging feat (see pages 31 and 32 of The Draped Bust Half Dollars of 1796-1797).
From Heritage Auctions, August 2016
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Lot 4074 , 1796 15 Stars, O-101, PCGS Fine 12, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $49,350 (Coin Serial Number 133), from The Hamilton Collection.
From Heritage Auctions, August 2016
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Lot 4075 , 1796 15 Stars, O-101, PCGS VF 30, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $82,250 (Coin Serial Number 126), from The Hamilton Collection.
From Heritage Auctions, August 2016
1796 16 Stars, O-102
Lot 4076 , 1796 16 Stars, O-102, PCGS VF 25, CAC, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $76,375 (Coin Serial Number 216), from The Hamilton Collection.
From Heritage Auctions, June 2016
1797, O-101a
Hamilton Specimen
Grade: Very Fine.
Identification Markers: Two pinscratches in the field below Liberty's chin forming a T leaning to the left. A diagonal pinscratch (\) runs from the hair into the neck. A horizontal pinscratch extends from the inner point of star 5 to the bottom point of the middle ribbon. A light horizontal scratch is located on the lower left (facing) wing.
Provenance: Acquired from Heritage Auctions Inventory (June 23, 1988), PCGS VF 20, CAC.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 432a (new number).
From Heritage Auctions, August 2016
1797, O-102
Lot 4079 , 1797, O-102, PCGS VF 30, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $58,892 (Coin Serial Number 504), from The Hamilton Collection.
From Heritage Auctions, August 2016
1797, O-102
Lot 4078 , 1797, O-102, PCGS Fine 15, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $44,650 (Coin Serial Number 511).
Entry #34, June 2016
Heritage Auctions sold two Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars from the Rev. Dr. James G. K. McClure Collection on June 9, 2016 at the Long Beach Coin Expo.
From Heritage Auctions, June 2016
1796 15 Stars, O-101
McClure Specimen
Grade: Good obverse, About Good reverse.
Identification Markers: Laminated planchet defect on each side. Light scratch left of star 12.
Provenance: McClure Collection (Heritage Auctions, June 2016), NGC AG 3, lot 4493 , $28,200.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 169a (new number).
From Heritage Auctions, June 2016
1797, O-101a
McClure Specimen
Grade: Very Good obverse, Good reverse.
Identification Markers: Upper left to lower right adjustment marks on central part of Liberty's portrait. A single diagonal adjustment mark extends from T in LIBERTY through stars 9,10, 11 and to rim at 3:00. Reverse rim worn into top letters of RICA in AMERICA.
Provenance: McClure Collection (Heritage Auctions, June 2016), NGC Good 6, CAC, lot 4494 , $41,125.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 452a (new number).
Entry #33, May 2016
Heritage Auctions sold two Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars in the Central States Numismatic Society (CSNS) sale in Schaumburg, Illinois, April 28, 2016.
From Heritage Auctions, April 2016
1796 16 Stars, O-102, late die state
Grade: Very Fine, Plugged, Tooled.
Identification Markers: Plugged at 12:00 obverse, and the letters ER in LIBERTY and digit 2 in the reverse denominator re-engraved. Two digs in rim above BE, and a diamond-shaped mark on the hair curl below Liberty's ear.
Provenance: Central States sale (Heritage Auctions, April 2016), NGC VF Details, Plugged, Tooled, lot 4653, $42,300, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery coin since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 226a (new number).
From Heritage Auctions, April 2016
1797, O-102
Lot 4654 , 1797, O-102, PCGS Fine 12, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $55,812.50 Coin Serial Number 523).
Entry #32, January 2016
The Byron Reed Uncirculated 1797 half dollar specimen appearing in The Draped Bust Half Dollars of 1796-1797 reference ( Coin Serial Number 401 ) has recently been determined to pedigree to the Thomas Cleneay Collection sold by S.H. and H. Chapman in December 1890. Information to this effect became available through the Newman Numismatic Portal at Washington University that illustrates the Chapman catalog, including the names of successful bidders (see the two attachments below).
The Provenance of Coin Serial Number 401 is therefore modified to read:
Thomas Cleneay Collection (S.H. and H. Chapman, December 1890), Uncirculated, lot 1104, $250; Byron Reed Collection (Spink America, October 1996), very choice to gem uncirculated and prooflike, lot 25, $176,000; Central States Numismatic Society sale (Heritage Auctions, April 2015), PCGS MS 64 Secure, CAC, lot 5071, $493,500.
Relatedly, Coin Serial Number 301 , the Cleneay specimen in the Chapman catalog originally thought to be a separate coin from the Reed example is deleted from the 1796-1797 half dollar reference.
Entry #31, December 2015
Legend Rare Coin Auctions sold two Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars at The Regency Auction XV in Las Vegas, Nevada, December 17, 2015.
From Legend Rare Con Auctions, December 2015
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Lot 217, 1796 15 Stars, O-101, PCGS VF 30, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $99,875 (Coin Serial Number 137).
From Legend Rare Coin Auctions, December 2015
1797, O-102
Lot 218, 1797 O-102, PCGS Fine 12, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $55,812.50 (Coin Serial Number 528a).
Entry #30, November 2015
The author wishes to thank David Stone, Heritage Auction cataloger, for submitting Provenance additions for the following two coins in The Draped Bust Half Dollars of 1796-1797 reference:
Coin Serial Number 257 , 1796 16 Stars, early die state
• W.H. Woodin Collection (Thomas Elder, March 2011), Good, Plugged over head and two letters re-engraved, lot 77, $30.
Coin Serial Number 308 , 1797 O-101
• W.H. Woodin Collection (Thomas Elder, March 2011), Fine, lot 78, $60.
Entry #29, September 2015
Heritage Auctions sold two Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars at the Long Beach Coin Expo, September 17, 2015.
From Heritage Auctions, September 2015
1796 16 Stars, O-102, early die state
Lot 3920 , 1796 16 Stars, O-102, ANACS VF 20 Details, Damaged, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $37,600 (Coin Serial Number 218).
From Heritage Auctions, September 2015
1797, O-101a
Lot 3921 , 1797 O-101a, PCGS Fine 15, CAC, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $70,500 (Coin Serial Number 442).
Entry #28, August 2015
The 1797, O-102 NGC Good Details, reverse Repaired half dollar (Coin Serial Number 533) sold in lot 5624 by Heritage Auctions in the January 2013 Florida United Numismatists (FUN) auction (upper-most images) apparently served as the prototype or model coin for a deceptive counterfeit (lower-most images).
From Heritage Auctions, January 2013
Prototype 1797, O-102
Counterfeit 1797, O-102
Note the following Identification Markers on both coins: the short diagonal mark on the lower one-third of Liberty's portrait (in line with the inner point of star 3 and the 1 in the date); the minuscule mark below it in line with the serif of the first 7; the minute rim ding between stars 12 and 13; and the deep mark above the diagonal in the N of UNITED.
While the "repair" below the eagle's right (facing) wing does not show clearly on the reverse image of the counterfeit, previous inspection of this coin in 2008 by the present author indicated that it is in fact present, though more subdued.
Most of the surface marks on the counterfeit coin appear to be more faded than on the prototype. At least three grading services (PCI, PCGS, and NGC) encapsulated the counterfeit in "Details" holders. NGC ultimately identified it as a counterfeit sometime in late 2013 or early 2014. The question arises: Do other copies of this deceptive counterfeit exist?
The Provenance for Coin Serial Number 533 (the genuine piece) in the Draped Bust Half Dollars of 1796-1797 reference is modified to read: possibly Kreisberg and Schulman (March 1965), About Very Good, lot 309; possibly Sale of the 70's (Kagin's, November 1973), good to very good, lot 436, $2,200; possibly Bowers and Merena (September 1992), Good 4, Lightly Polished and Burnished, lot 1336, $6,160; 2013 FUN Sale (Heritage Auctions, January 2013), NGC Good Details, reverse Repaired, lot 5624, $30,550.
The following portion of the Provenance for Coin Serial Number 533 is deleted from the above reference: Early American History Auctions (circa May 2007), PCI Good 4, Repaired, lot number unknown; Dick Osburn Rare Coins fixed price list (October 2007), PCGS Genuine (Osburn Good 4), $34, 750.
Entry #27, May 2015
Stack's Bowers Galleries in association with Sotheby's sold four Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars from the D. Brent Pogue Collection Part I in New York City, May 19, 2015.
From Stack's Bowers-Sotheby's, May 2015
1796 15 Stars, O-101, early die state
Lot 1100, 1796 15 Stars, O-101, PCGS Specimen 63, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $587,500 (Coin Serial Number 101).
From Stack's Bowers-Sotheby's, May 2015
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Lot 1101, 1796 15 Stars, O-101, PCGS MS 62, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $258,500 (Coin Serial Number 105).
From Stack's Bowers-Sotheby's, May 2015
1796 16 Stars, O-102, early die state
Lot 1102, 1796 16 Stars, O-102, PCGS MS 66, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $822,500 (Coin Serial Number 200).
From Stack's Bowers-Sotheby's, May 2015
1797, O-101a, late die state
Lot 1103, 1797 O-101a, PCGS MS 66, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $1,527,500 (Coin Serial Number 403).
Entry #26, May 2015
Heritage Auctions sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar from the Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part III in New York City, May 12, 2015.
From Heritage Auctions, May 2015
1796 16 Stars, O-102, early die state
Lot 98439 , 1796 16 Stars, O-102, PCGS MS64, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $329,000 (Coin Serial Number 201).
Entry #25, April 2015
Heritage Auctions offered five Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars in the recent Central States Numismatic Society (CSNS) sale in Schaumburg, Illinois, April 23, 2015.
From Heritage Auctions, April 2015
1796 15 Stars, O-101, early die state
Lot 5067 , 1796 15 Stars, O-101, NGC Fine 12, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $47,000 (Coin Serial Number 161a).
From Heritage Auctions, April 2015
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Lot 5068 , 1796 15 Stars, O-101, NGC VF 30, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $49,350 (Coin Serial Number 132).
From Heritage Auctions, April 2015
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Lot 5069 , 1796 15 Stars, O-101, PCGS Genuine, XF Details, unsold (Coin Serial Number 123).
From Heritage Auctions, April 2015
1797, O-101a, late die state
Grade: Extremely Fine.
Identification Markers: Minute rim bruise opposite star 15. Faint diagonal pinscratch connecting star 9 and Liberty's lower forehead. Faint pinscratches that appear to form an "x" in the field between the eagle's neck and right (facing) wing.
Provenance: Central States sale (Heritage, April 2015), NGC XF 45, lot 5070, $123,375, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery coin since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 417a (new number).
From Heritage Auctions, April 2015
1797 O-101a, intermediate die state
Lot 5071 , 1797, O-101a, PCGS Secure MS64, CAC, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $493,500 (Coin Serial Number 401).
Entry #24, March 2015
From Dick Osburn Rare Coins, December 2012
1796 16 Stars, O-102
Grade: About Good obverse, Poor reverse.
Identification Markers: Minute rim ding at 12:00 obverse. Small toning spot midway between star 3 and Liberty's hair. Small dent near rim beneath space between 96 of date. Reverse virtually smooth.
Provenance: Dick Osburn Rare Coins fixed price list (December 2012), AG/Fair, $22,950.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery specimen since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 259 (new number).
Entry #23, January 2015
Heritage Auctions sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar in the recent Florida United Numismatists (FUN) sale in Orlando, Florida, January 7, 2015.
From Heritage Auctions, January 2015
1797, O-101a
Lot 4122 , 1797, O-101a, PCGS Genuine, VF Details, Cleaning, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $42,300 (Coin Serial Number 422).
Entry #22, October 2014
Heritage Auctions sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar from the Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part II in New York City, October 27, 2014.
From Heritage Auctions, October 2014
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Lot 98460 , 1796 15 Stars, O-101, NGC MS 62, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $282,000 (Coin Serial Number 107).
Entry #21, October 2014
Stack's Bowers sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar in its recent PNG Invitational sale in New York, October 10, 2014.
From Stack's Bowers, October 2014
1796 16 Stars, O-102
Lot 105, 1796 16 Stars, O-102, PCGS VF 35, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $141,000 (Coin Serial Number 227).
Entry #20, August 2014
Heritage Auctions sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar from the Oliver Jung Collection (Ex: Baldenhofer, Norweb, Koshkarian) in conjunction with the American Numismatic Association and the 2014 World's Fair of Money Convention in Chicago, August 7, 2014.
From Heritage Auctions, August 2014
1797, O-101a
Lot 5582, 1797, O-101a, PCGS Secure MS65+, CAC , price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $1,292,500 (Coin Serial Number 400).
Entry #19, August 2014
From "a Southern Collector"
1796 16 Stars, O-102, early die state
A Southern Collector's Specimen.
Grade: Very Fine obverse, Fine reverse.
Identification Markers: Curving mark on drapery above 6 in date. Rim ding right of star 14. Milling mark to right of chin opposite star 14. Small mark halfway between star 5 and lower hair ribbon. Small mark just to lower right of fourth inside laurel leaf. Small mark near tip of inner palm leaf below tip of right (facing) wing.
Provenance: Per present owner of coin, bought from Harry Labstain Rare Coins (Summer FUN Show, July 2010), PCGS Fine 15.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery specimen since publication of the book. PCGS Certification Number 16707010.
Coin Serial Number: 238a (new number).
Entry #18, July 2014
GreatCollections Certified Coin Auctions, Irvine, California, sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar on July 13, 2014.
From GreatCollections, July 2014
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Lot 207328, 1796 15 Stars, O-101, NGC Fine 12, price realized, including 10 percent buyer's fee: $47,544 (Coin Serial Number 162).
Entry #17, July 2014
From Heritage Auctions, July 2014
1797, O-101a
July 2014 Orlando Summer Florida United Numismatist (FUN) Auction Specimen.
Grade: Poor.
Identification Markers: A shallow vertical and diagonal scrape on the second curl.
Provenance: Orlando Summer FUN Auction (Heritage Auctions, July 2014), PCGS Poor 1, lot 3749, $18,800, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery specimen since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 463 (new number).
Entry #16, July 2014
Heritage Auctions sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar from the Eugene H. Gardner Collection, Part I in New York City, June 23, 2014.
From Heritage Auctions, June 2014
1797, O-101a
Lot 30464 , 1797, O-101a, PCGS MS63, price realized, including 17.5 percent buyer's fee: $282,000 (Coin Serial Number 402).
Entry #15, May 2014
Heritage Auctions sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar in its recent Central States Numismatic Society (CSNS) sale in Schaumburg, Illinois, April 23, 2014.
From Heritage Auctions, April 2014
1797, O-102
Lot 4323 , 1797, O-102, NGC VF Details, Repaired, price realized, including 17.5% buyers fee: $30,550 (Coin Serial Number 521a).
Entry #14, April 2014
GreatCollections Certified Coin Auctions, Irvine, California, sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar on April 6, 2014.
From GreatCollections, April 2014
1797, O-101a
Lot 184554, 1797 O-101a, PCGS Genuine VF Details, Scratch, price realized, including 10 percent buyer's fee: $46,956.80 (Coin Serial Number 421).
Entry #13, February 2014
Stack's Bowers sold a Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollar in its recent Americana Sale in New York, February 6, 2014.
From Stack's Bowers, February 2014
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Lot 2063, 1796 15 Stars, O-101, PCGS MS 63, price realized, including buyer's fee: $367,187.50 (Coin Serial Number 103).
Entry #12, January 2014
Heritage Auctions sold two Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars in the recent Florida United Numismatists (FUN) auction in Orlando, Florida, January 9, 2014.
From Heritage Auctions, January 2014
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Lot 5242, 1796 15 Stars, O-101, PCGS VF 35 , price realized, including buyer's fee: $106,500 (Coin Serial Number 141).
From Heritage Auctions, January 2014
1797, O-101a
Lot 5243, 1797, O-101a, PCGS XF 40 , price realized, including buyer's fee: $99,875 (Coin Serial Number 415).
Entry #11, November 2013
Heritage Auctions sold two Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part II in New York City, November 15-16, 2013.
From Heritage Auctions, November 2013
1796 15 Stars, O-101
Thurston - Burton - Green - Newman Specimen.
Grade: Mint State.
Identification Markers: Light horizontal adjustment mark midway between Liberty's ear and the neck curl, extending through the jaw into the hair. Two horizontal adjustment marks on eagle's breast and a few more on the right (facing) cloud.
Provenance: Edward Cogan to W.W. Thurston in a private sale for $325 (per S.K. Harzfeld, following); W.W. Thurston Collection (S.K. Harzfeld, September 1880), Uncirculated, lot 211, $300; John E. Burton Collection (W.E. Woodward, October 1881), Uncirculated, lot 513, $275; "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate; Partnership of Eric P. Newman/B.G. Johnson d.b.a. as St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society (Heritage Auctions, November 2013), NGC MS 62, lot 33418, $282,000.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery specimen since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 108a (new number).
From Heritage Auctions, November 2013
1796 16 Stars, O-102, late die state
Green - Newman Specimen.
Grade: Mint State.
Identification Markers: Small indent in the center of Liberty's cheek.
Provenance: "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate; Partnership of Eric P. Newman/B.G. Johnson d.b.a. as St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society (Heritage Auctions, November 2013), NGC MS 63, lot 33419, $470,000.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery specimen since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 201a (new number).
Entry #10, September 2013
From Charles McNutt, August 2013
1797, O-102.
McNutt Specimen.
Grade: Fine.
Identification Markers: Worn rim above ERTY. Horizontal mark above L in LIBERTY. Tiny vertical crescent-shaped scratch through E of LIBERTY. Three marks just left of eagle's head and one below lower beak. Vertical scratch from eagle's eye across its breast.
Provenance: "Harry Warren (Mid South Coin) obtained this coin at a show in the late 1980s and sold it to John Cayce. When Cayce died, the collection was sold back to Harry, who sold it to me ca. 1998" (per August 16, 2013 email from Charles McNutt).
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery specimen since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 528a (new number).
Entry #9, August 2013
From Stack's Bowers, August 2013
1796 16 Stars, O-102, late die state.
August 2013 Chicago ANA Auction-Sale Specimen.
Grade: Fine.
Identification Markers: Short horizontal scratch above L in LIBERTY. Minute mark in center of I in LIBERTY. Short upper-left to lower-right scratch under neck curl. Round mark on cloud midway between left (facing) claw and ribbon bow.
Provenance: Chicago ANA Auction (Stack's Bowers, August 2013), PCGS Fine 12 Secure Holder, lot 4104, $88,125.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery specimen since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 241a (new number).
Entry #8, August 2013
From Heritage Auctions, August 2013
1797, O-101a, late die state.
August 2013 Chicago Signature Auction Specimen.
Grade: Fine obverse, Very Good reverse.
Identification Markers: Horizontal pinscratch from Liberty's temple to nose. Horizontal planchet lamination from D in UNITED to eagle's lower neck. Diagonal pinscratch from upper part of left (facing) wing, across breast, to below right (facing) wing.
Provenance: Chicago Signature Auction (Heritage Auctions, August 2013), PCGS VG 8, lot 5630 , $52,875.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery specimen since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 449b (new number).
Additional 1796-1797 Half Dollar Appearances at the August 2013 Heritage Chicago Signature Auction :
- Lot 5631, 1797 O-101a, NCS AU Details, Improperly Cleaned, $64,625 (Book Serial # 408)
Lot 5632, 1797 O-101a, NGC AU 55 , $141,000 (Book Serial # 410)
Entry #7, July 2013
From Stack's Bowers, June 2013
1797, O-101a, intermediate die state.
June 2013 Baltimore Sale Specimen.
Grade: Fine, Repaired.
Identification Markers: Small rim ding to upper left of I in LIBERTY. Distinctive area of discoloration in upper-right obverse and lower-right reverse quadrants, probably associated with some sort of repair. On the obverse, the Y in LIBERTY and stars 9 and 10 are obliterated, as are most of the CA in AMERICA and the adjacent lower palm leaves on the reverse.
Provenance: Dick Osburn Rare Coins fixed price list (December 2012), Fine 15 "Has the look of a repaired piece," $24,750; Baltimore Auction (Stack's Bowers, June 2013), PCGS Fine Details, Smoothed, lot 1283, $23,657.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery specimen since publication of the book. Entry # 7 updates Entry # 3 (high resolution Stack's Bowers images and Provenance).
Coin Serial Number: 448a (new number).
Entry #6, May 2013
From Stack's Bowers, May 2013
1796 15 Stars, O-101.
Frank - 2013 ANA National Money Show Sale Specimen.
Grade: Very Fine obverse, Repaired, Fine reverse, Repaired.
Identification Markers: Attempted puncture on neck above Liberty's shoulder. Deep horizontal cut across eagle's breast extending halfway through the right (facing) wing. Minor rim bruise above A in STATES (original id markers). The Bowers and Merena, Dick Osburn, and Stack's Bowers photos show repairs on Liberty's shoulder and the eagle's breast and right (facing) wing. The Stack's, Bowers and Merena, and Dick Osburn images also show a minute rim bruise above the A in STATES (this bruise is obscured by the PCGS holder on the 2013 Stack's Bowers photo). The reverse photos of all four catalogs also show a short vertical scratch to the right of the lower-left (facing) wing about 1/3 of the way to the left (facing) leg, and a minute rim ding above the lower upright of N in UNITED (due to poor photo quality, these markers are barely visible on the 1956 Stack's photo).
Provenance: B. Frank Collection (Stack's, November 1956), Fine, "An attempted puncture behind the neck and a cut across the eagle's breast," lot 870, $425 (original provenance); Baltimore Sale (Bowers and Merena, November 1996), VG 8, "possible repair on Liberty's neck," lot 1923, $8,250; Dick Osburn Rare Coins fixed price list (December 2012), VG 10, "possible repair at neck/hairline," $29,696; ANA National Money Show (Stack's Bowers, May 2013), PCGS Fine Details, Damage or Tooling, lot 324, $25,850.
Additional Notes: The author is highly confident that the pieces listed in the above catalogs represent the same coin, based on the location of the repairs and contact marks.
Coin Serial Number: 149.
Entry #5, April 2013
From North Port Coins, April 2013
1796 16 Stars, O-102, late die state.
Ely - Western Reserve Historical Society Specimen.
Grade: Fine, Plugged, Smoothed.
Identification Markers: Upper-left to lower-right pin scratch from juncture of neck and chin in line with star 16 (original id marker). Plug smoothed out on both sides, curving mark on lower left of star 4, mark on lower stand of E AMERICA, mark on cloud below left (facing) claw, two vertically aligned marks between left (facing) leg and wing, and upper-right to lower-left linear mark to right of tail (the last four markers are new since publication of book).
Provenance: Hon. Herman Ely Collection (W.E. Woodward, January 1884), fine, perforation at point of bust filled, lot 157, $25; Western Reserve Historical Society Collection (Stack's, September 2002), About Fine but holed and crudely plugged at 5:00, lot 604, $13,800; Heritage Auctions (March 2009), ANACS VG 10, Plugged, lot 1913, $17,250 (original provenance); North Port Coins, Inc. fixed price list (April 2013), ICG VG 10, price unlisted.
Additional Notes: The North Port Coins entry is new since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 239.
Entry #4, April 2013
Recent 1796-1797 Half Dollar Prices and Book Serial Numbers
1796 15 Stars, NGC XF 45, Heritage, CSNS Chicago, lot 4259, April 25, 2013, $91,062.50 (Book coin serial # 121)
1797 0-101a, PCGS XF 45, CAC, Pinnacle Rarities fixed price, April 29, 2013, $159,500 (Book coin serial # 417)
1797 O-102, NGC Very Fine Details, Repaired, Howard Coins, April 29, 2013, $40,007 (Book coin serial # 521a)
1797 O-101, ANACS VF 30 Details, Tooled, Cleaned, Stack's Bowers, January 24, 2013, unsold (Book coin serial # 322a)
1797 O-101a, Fine 15, Repaired, Dick Osburn Rare Coins, December 2012, $24,750 (a new discovery since publication of book, new Coin Book Serial Number 448a)
1796 15 Stars, VG 10, Repaired, Dick Osburn Rare coins, December 2012, $32,995 (Book coin serial nuber 149)
1796 16 Stars, AG/Fair, Dick Osburn Rare Coins, December 2012, $22,950 (a new discovery piece since publication of book, new Coin Book Serial Number 259)
Entry #3, March 2013
1797, O-101a, intermediate die state.
Dick Osburn Rare Coins December 2012 Inventory Specimen.
Grade: Fine, Repaired.
Identification Markers: Small rim ding to upper left of I in LIBERTY. Distinctive area of discoloration in upper-right obverse and lower-right reverse quadrants, probably associated with some sort of repair. On the obverse, the Y in LIBERTY and stars 9 and 10 are obliterated, as are most of the CA in AMERICA and the adjacent lower palm leaves on the reverse.
Provenance: Dick Osburn Rare Coins fixed price list (December 2012), Fine 15 "Has the look of a repaired piece," $24,750.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery specimen since publication of the book.
Coin Serial Number: 448a (new number).
Entry #2, February 2013
1796 15 Stars, O-101, early die state
A Southern Collector's Specimen
Grade: Very Fine obverse, Damaged, Fine reverse, Damaged.
Identification Markers: Nine or ten upper-right to lower-left trending marks, which appear to be cuts or digs, on the right obverse, mostly in the field, and one on Liberty's cheekbone. Light vertical mark near back of head below L in LIBERTY. Light horizontal cut or dig in middle of eagle's torso, one in left middle of right (facing) wing, one on left (facing) leg, and three on clouds above ribbon bows. Small mark midway between last S in STATES and O in OF, another to lower left of 2 in fraction.
Provenance: In a Southern collection since about 1910.
Additional Notes: This is a new discovery specimen since publication of the book.
Serial Number: 161a (new number).
Entry # 1, January 2013
Heritage Auctions sold two Draped Bust Small Eagle half dollars in the recent Florida United Numismatists (FUN) auction in Orlando, Florida, January 10, 2013:
Lot 5623, 1796 16 Stars, O-102, PCGS AU 55 , price realized, including buyer's fee: $211,500 (Coin Serial Number 203)
Lot 5624, 1797, O-102, NGC Good Details, Reverse Repaired , price realized, including buyer's fee: $30,550 (Coin Serial Number 533)