Lot 1129
1794 Flowing Hair Half Dollar. PCGS graded VF-30. A very pleasing and very choice Very Fine plus specimen. The surfaces and rims are mostly smooth with only the faintest evidence of some light adjustment marks in the central portions of the obverse. Nicely toned in antique greyish tones with lighter highlights.
The first half dollar coinage and one of the rarest in the series as only 23,464 pieces were minted. Coins were delivered on October 15, 1794, and in a subsequent delivery in February 1795. These two deliveries totaled the entire production run of the coins with the date 1794. Primitive conditions at the early U.S. Mint at Philadelphia must be inferred from the use of seven obverse dies and seven reverse dies used to coin the production of 1794 half dollars; these provided eleven different die varieties for the year! The average die life produced approximately 2,000 coins. On Overton-101, the first star on the left pierces the lowest curl near the center. The point of star 2 and second curl are close. Point of star 15 joins the lower edge of the bust, with the date 8mm., slender, and evenly spaced and well centered. The reverse has 21 berries arranged 10 left and 11 right (the only 21-berries reverse). All observed specimens show a die crack from the edge to a pair of leaves below the first S (seen in the photographs provided). Pop 1 at PCGS for this variety.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 22,000.
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| Realized $23,575 |
