 1796 15 Stars. O.101. Rarity-5. Fine. Medium gray fields surround lighter, golden-gray devices on the obverse, while the reverse ranges from lavender gray to light gray on the reverse. The strike is generally good, with details remaining in Liberty's hair and eagle's feathers despite circulation and some subtle adjustment marks visible at the central obverse. Magnification reveals a pair of ancient, nearly imperceptible 'X' pinscratches at the central and lower reverse, in addition to some very light hairlines from a past wiping. Neither of these issues, luckily, lessens the overall strong appeal of this important type that is the only Half Dollar to display its denomination on the reverse until the Capped Bust issues of 1807. What appears to be a rim bruise at the lower obverse is actually the intrusion of the bottom of the letter 'A' of DOLLAR from the edge lettering. Die states are those usually seen, the obverse strongly cracked from rim to point of bust. As very high grade specimens of this two-year type approach $1,000,000 at auction, this charming circulated specimen should seem a bargain!
Ex Sotheby's Auction, unknown date, lot 754.
When the obverse die for this coin was engraved, 15 stars were included to represent the 15 states in the Union at the time, Vermont and Kentucky having been added to the original 13 in 1791 and 1792, respectively. When Tennessee was added in 1796, the Mint added a 16th start to the obverse, representing the 16th state in the Union. Starting in 1801, however, the Mint reverted to a 13 star obverse.
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