HALF DIME 1796-1797 Draped Bust, Small Eagle - More Details

The obverse depicts Miss Liberty with flowing hair, a ribbon behind her head, with drapery covering her plunging neckline. LIBERTY is above and the date is below. 1796 half dimes have eight stars to the left and seven to the right on the obverse, while those dated 1797 come in three variations, with a total of 13, 15, or 16 stars. The reverse features an open wreath enclosing a small eagle perched on a cloud.

Examples of this Half Dime are among the most difficult to locate. Most will be found in lower grades from About Good through Fine. Very Fine pieces are elusive, Extremely Fine coins are rare and pieces in AU or better preservation are seldom met with. As is true of other early silver coins, pieces are apt to have mint-caused adjustment marks and to be weakly struck in certain areas, particularly at the center of the eagle on the reverse.