Lot 431
1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime. . LM-10, V-4, a single outer berry below the left wing. PCGS graded MS-63. Nice even toning on both sides. The Flowing Hair half dimes of 1794-95 were designed by Robert Scot, the chief engraver of the Mint. His design was different than that found on Birch's 1792 half dismes (the spelling of "disme" would gradually evolve to "dime." On the 1792 coins, the denomination is spelled HALF DISME).
Scot's design features a head of Liberty facing to the right with distinctive flowing hair. Fifteen stars, arranged 8x7, surround the head with the date below and the word LIBERTY above. On the reverse, an eagle stands amid an olive branch with the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA around it. There is no indication of this coin's value on either side, nor would there be until the Capped Bust design was adopted in 1829.
Powerfully original color covers everything like a soft, smooth blanket on the satiny, largely untouched surfaces of this choice specimen. A flicker of light lavender accents the uppermost features of Liberty's likeness, with comparable glints of the same color occur on the reverse. Portions of the design are weak from a slightly uneven strike (such as the right wing and most of the eagle's head and body), along with the lowermost curls on Liberty. There is a light hairline from the 5th star to the back of the head. Pop 44; 37 finer for this date at PCGS. (PCGS # 4251) .
Estimated Value $14,000 - 15,000.
The Mark Gordon Collection.
|
| |
| Realized $13,225 |
