1796 Draped Bust Half Dollar. O-101. Rarity-7 (as a Specimen Strike). 15 Stars. Specimen-63 (PCGS). This memorable coin is an ideal candidate for a high-quality type set, illustrating as it does the most elusive of the silver designs. This was once in the collection of Dr. Christian A. Allenburger, an incredible holding of early Gem coins listed in one of B. Max Mehl’s most important catalogs, although it is little remembered today, except by scholars. Later it was in the unequalled cabinet of John Whitney Walter that we sold in 1999. Here is an excerpt from the narrative part of our listing:
The finest known 15 stars half dollar. The Red Book plate coin. An important coin in every respect. The late Walter Breen noted that a few 15 stars half dollars were known with prooflike surfaces suggestive of specimen strikings. It is very likely that these were made especially in commemoration of the type change or for the presidential election of that year and were carefully preserved by those lucky enough to be given one. |
This example is bright silver in color with just a touch of the faintest gray toning. The coin is nearly pale white everywhere. Both sides show full prooflike surface everywhere …" Provenance: From B. Max Mehl’s sale of the Dr. Christian A. Allenburger Collection, March 1948, lot 385; Abe Kosoff’s ‘Illustrated History’ fixed price list of the Dr. J. Hewitt Judd Collection, 1962, lot 1646; Kreisberg and Schulman’s Brand-Lichtenfels Sale, March 1964, lot 1289; our 55th Anniversary Sale, October 1990, lot 1646; our sale of the John Whitney Walter Collection, May 1999, lot 1777. |