1796 50C 16 Stars MS(PCGS#6058)

February 2026 Showcase Auction - The James A. Stack, Sr. Collection Part II

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

25072

Grade

F15

Price

52,800

Lot Description

Amato 235. Tompkins Die Stage 3/2. We are pleased to once again offer this attractive and desirable circulated example of the brief Draped Bust, Small Eagle half dollar design type, a coin that is returning to market for the first time since appearing in our (Bowers and Ruddy's) Garrett I Sale of November 1979. It was cataloged therein as:<p><em><strong>1796 16 stars on obverse.</strong> O-102. Style similar to the preceding except the obverse star count has been increased by one, to sixteen. Don Taxay notes that only 934 examples of the 1796 half dollar were struck, divided between the two varieties.</em><p><em>The present coin is Fine-12. The wear is smooth and even in all areas. There are no adjustment marks or other defects. A very pleasing example of this popular and rare issue.</em><p>Although composed of coins dated 1796 and 1797, the Draped Bust, Small Eagle half dollar series was issued for just one year. Only 3,918 examples were delivered in four warrants from February 28 to May 26, 1797. Today, probably no more than 300 half dollars of this challenging design type can be accounted for, signifying a survival rate of less than 10%. Subsequent to 1797 no half dollars were minted until 1801, at which time the Heraldic Eagle design was adopted for the reverse. The 1796 O-102 variety is the scarcest in this series with Very Fine representing the median grade among survivors. The present example is included in the extensive census published by Jon P. Amato in his 2012 reference <em>The Draped Bust Half Dollars of 1796-1797</em>, in which it is assigned Coin Serial Number 235. It is a noteworthy rarity that would do equally well in an advanced type collection or specialized early half dollar variety set.