1796 50C 15 Stars

1797 50C

1796 50C 16 Stars (Regular Strike)

Series: Draped Bust Half Dollars 1796-1807

PCGS MS66

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PCGS MS62

PCGS AU55

PCGS #:: 6058

Designer:: Robert Scot/John Eckstein

Edge:: Lettered: FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR

Diameter:: 32.50 millimeters

Weight:: 13.48 grams

Mintage:: 934

Mint:: Philadelphia

Metal:: 90% Silver, 10% Copper

Auction Record:: $822,500 • MS66 • 05-19-2015 • Stack's Bowers

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (4)

Major Varieties

1796 50C 15 Stars
1796 50C 16 Stars

Die Varieties

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Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity By Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity By Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
All Grades	40	R-8.7	1 / 3	2 / 16
60 or Better	2	R-9.9	1 / 3	2 / 16 TIE
65 or Better	1	R-10.0	1 / 3 TIE	1 / 16 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	40
60 or Better	2
65 or Better	1

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-8.7
60 or Better	R-9.9
65 or Better	R-10.0

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	1 / 3
60 or Better	1 / 3
65 or Better	1 / 3 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	2 / 16
60 or Better	2 / 16 TIE
65 or Better	1 / 16 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS66 PCGS grade	Judge Curtis Collection (circa the 1940s) - possibly Wurtzbach Collection via a Bluestone sale in 1931 - Abraham Hepner, sold privately in 1968 for $1,600 - Lelan Rogers Collection - Stack’s 11/1995:1250 - John Walter Whitney Collection - Stack's 5/4/1999:1778, $460,000 - D. Brent Pogue Collection - Stack’s/Bowers & Sotheby’s 5/2015:1102, $822,500
2	MS64 PCGS grade	Bowers & Merena 8/1998:181, $115,250 - Haig Koshkarian Collection - American Numismatic Rarities 3/2004:575, $276,000 - Goldbergs 5/2006:2908, $414,000 - Goldbergs 2/2011:1413, $345,000 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 5/2015:98439, $329,000
2	MS64 estimated grade
2	MS64 estimated grade
5	MS63 estimated grade	Richard B. Winsor Collection - S. & H. Chapman 12/1895:598 - J. M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1674, $143,000
6	MS62 PCGS grade	"Colonel" E.H.R. Green Collection - Partnership of Eric P. Newman & B.G. Johnson (St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.) - Eric P. Newman, who paid $700 - Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society - Heritage 11/2013:33419, $470,000
7	AU55 PCGS grade	Stack’s 6/1968:79 - Stack’s “Winner F. Delp Collection” 11/1972:70 - Heritage 2/1995:5655 - Bob Bisanz U.S. Type Set - Heritage 1/2001:7729 - David Lawrence Rare Coins - Bowers & Merena 7/2003:1382, $109,250 - Bowers & Merena 2/2005:524, $172,500 - Liberty Collection - Heritage 1/2013:5623, $211,500
8	AU50 PCGS grade	Dale Friend Collection
8	AU50 estimated grade

#1 MS66 PCGS grade

Judge Curtis Collection (circa the 1940s) - possibly Wurtzbach Collection via a Bluestone sale in 1931 - Abraham Hepner, sold privately in 1968 for $1,600 - Lelan Rogers Collection - Stack’s 11/1995:1250 - John Walter Whitney Collection - Stack's 5/4/1999:1778, $460,000 - D. Brent Pogue Collection - Stack’s/Bowers & Sotheby’s 5/2015:1102, $822,500

#2 MS64 PCGS grade

Bowers & Merena 8/1998:181, $115,250 - Haig Koshkarian Collection - American Numismatic Rarities 3/2004:575, $276,000 - Goldbergs 5/2006:2908, $414,000 - Goldbergs 2/2011:1413, $345,000 - Eugene H. Gardner Collection - Heritage 5/2015:98439, $329,000

#2 MS64 estimated grade

#5 MS63 estimated grade

Richard B. Winsor Collection - S. & H. Chapman 12/1895:598 - J. M. Clapp Collection - John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact in 1942 - Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection - Bowers & Merena 4/1997:1674, $143,000

#6 MS62 PCGS grade

"Colonel" E.H.R. Green Collection - Partnership of Eric P. Newman & B.G. Johnson (St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.) - Eric P. Newman, who paid $700 - Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society - Heritage 11/2013:33419, $470,000

#7 AU55 PCGS grade

Stack’s 6/1968:79 - Stack’s “Winner F. Delp Collection” 11/1972:70 - Heritage 2/1995:5655 - Bob Bisanz U.S. Type Set - Heritage 1/2001:7729 - David Lawrence Rare Coins - Bowers & Merena 7/2003:1382, $109,250 - Bowers & Merena 2/2005:524, $172,500 - Liberty Collection - Heritage 1/2013:5623, $211,500

#8 AU50 PCGS grade

Dale Friend Collection

#8 AU50 estimated grade

Estimated mintage of the 16 stars variety is 365 compared to 569 for the 15 stars. I always thought there were about 20 survivors. What's odd is that the 16 stars appears in auction at least as often as the 15 stars. Based on mintage the 15 star should appear almost twice as often. I bought the AU55 in 2006 as part of the Naples III collection. It is exceeded only by the MS64 and MS66. Norweb owned a 16 star which is now in PCGS VF25.

David Hall:

The 1796-1797 Draped Bust, small eagle half dollar is considered to be the rarest United States silver type coin. It is an expensive coin even in the lowest grades. For the 1796, there are two varieties, 15 stars on the obverse and 16 stars on the obverse. The PCGS graded MS66 16 stars is the finest known (by a considerable margin) of either variety of 1796 dated half dollars.