Lot 25
25
SUPERB 1797 HALF-DOLLAR GEM UNCIRCULATED
Half-Dollar, 1797, draped bust obverse, small eagle reverse, edge lettered FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR, with stars between words, some of which overlap DOLLAR, obverse designed by Robert Scot, reverse by John Eckstein (Overton 101a), one of approximately 2,984 specimens coined, well struck at the obverse center, Liberty's hair is sharply defined, some light mint caused planchet adjustment marks, also some weakness at the reverse center, usual for this design type, and a network of small die cracks evident on the reverse, very choice to gem uncirculated and prooflike, mirrorlike fields and lightly frosted devices with shades of sky blue and rose, amongst the finest known

Details
Half-Dollar, 1797, draped bust obverse, small eagle reverse, edge lettered FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR, with stars between words, some of which overlap DOLLAR, obverse designed by Robert Scot, reverse by John Eckstein (Overton 101a), one of approximately 2,984 specimens coined, well struck at the obverse center, Liberty's hair is sharply defined, some light mint caused planchet adjustment marks, also some weakness at the reverse center, usual for this design type, and a network of small die cracks evident on the reverse, very choice to gem uncirculated and prooflike, mirrorlike fields and lightly frosted devices with shades of sky blue and rose, amongst the finest known

Lot Essay

In 1795, the Mint produced nearly $150,000 face value in Half-Dollars of the Flowing Hair type, a bounty that would serve the economy for some time to come. The Draped Bust, Small Eagle Half-Dollars of 1796 and 1797 were coined in very small numbers, and are very rare today. A probable explanation is the pressing need for other denominations such as Half-Dimes, Dimes (first minted in 1796), and Dollars. No doubt, many of the nearly 300,000 1795-dated Half-Dollars were still on hand at the mint or in bank vaults during 1796 and 1797, and coins of those two dates were only coined for depositors of bullion such as the Bank of the United States in Philadelphia.
The robust portrait of Liberty on this coin is after a portrait sketch by the artist Gilbert Stuart of Philadelphia socialite Mrs. William Bingham (née Ann Willing).