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This example is toned with even steel gray to light silver with a hint of gold in the
fields. The surfaces show traces of porosity and a few faint pin scratches crossing the
top of Liberty's head. The obverse has a moderate die crack through the second star to
Liberty's curls. Sharply struck despite being a later reverse die state, with several thin
cracks and the ever present heavier die crack between UNITED and STATES down to the
eagle's wing, another crack is found from the rim down the right side of the O in OF,
through the wreath to the right wing. A rare coin which is seldom offered in high grades
particularly so in grades of Extremely Fine or finer. In absolute terms, the Draped Bust,
Small Eagle half dollar is the rarest silver type coin, the total number that survived is
similar to that of the 1794 silver dollar, with the majority of each generally found in
much lower grades than seen here. For the specialist, this represents a wonderful
opportunity to put away one of the American Classics.Gilbert Stuart, the famous American
portrait painter is credited with designing the Draped Bust obverse first used on two
obverse dies for silver dollars in late 1795. The new design proved so popular, it was
adapted to all silver coins and eventually copper as well. Stuart's portrait is of Anne
Bingham who was said to be the most beautiful woman in Philadelphia at the time. For the
reverse, the eagle was rendered smaller and the wreath became a combination of laurel and
palm branches. The denomination was applied to the edge, and also at the base of the
wreath in the fraction of 1/2. NGC Census: 3; 8 finer (finest MS-66).
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