1794 Half Dollar - Please Let me Have your Thoughts

Eddi

I bought this coin in 1988, at a time when, as I recall, these were considered relatively scarce and hard to get. They were also generally quite pricey. I was very glad, therefore, when this more affordable example appeared in a Coin World ad by J.Kern.

You will note the condition is not that good, but that made it accesible for me at the time. So I contacted Mr. Kern and soon the coin was on its way to me across the Atlantic.

I would appreciate your thoughts on the grade of this coin. Personally, I would grade it at least G4, maybe G6?
That is also if I recall what Mr. Kern graded it.
It is an O-101, the more common variety for the year.

I am aware the 1794 halves were dispersed in some quantities as of 2005, and also in 2017/2018, so values were depressed for a while for what I could see, at least for the more common O-101 variety. Is this still the case?

BillJones

I can't help with the variety without some study, but I agree with the Good 6 grade. It's a decent example. Some of the lettering, especially around the outside of the reverse, would indicate a better grade, but the bust and the eagle are the grading points.

I have never owned one of these. I do have two 1795s.

logger7

I believe the graders would give the coin the best grade they can as they often do on these. Very nice looking coin.

291fifth

Good 4. There is too much wear on the date and eagle to merit a Good 6.

Kliao

Not a bad looking example. I could see it in a 6 holder.

LanceNewmanOCC

@BillJones said:
I can't help with the variety without some study, but I agree with the Good 6 grade. It's a decent example. Some of the lettering, especially around the outside of the reverse, would indicate a better grade, but the bust and the eagle are the grading points.

I have never owned one of these. I do have two 1795s.

if you do, note the position of the S in states, date and S1. it really doesn't have a close match. tbh, most of them are different enough to not really get them mixed up. not many years can make such a boast. seems there is almost always a shared-die mimic or two.

spyglassdesign

Looks problem free to me. That can't be said of a lot of samples available. That in and of itself makes this a great coin imo, regardless of perceived value.

87redcivic

I can't add much more than what others have already said regarding the grade. However, I think holding a coin in your collection since 1988 and retaining the who/where circumstances of the purchase is worth a compliment. Great job in being a trustee of this piece of history!

braddick

I would see if PCGS could gently remove the grease on the obverse.
A lovely coin worthy of the GD06 grade, as the rims are primarily strong, and all outline detail is present.
The lettering is "all there" for the quality, and the bust has the details of a 06.
I, too, would be proud to own such a treasured half.

marcmoish

I too can see a 6, just a really sweet well circulated example.

carabonnair

While the 1794 O-101 is the most common variety of all the flowing hair half dollars, the date 1794 is still scarcer than 1795. I would call yours O-101a, because it is a later die state - and you don't usually see the die breaks from the leaf to the second S in STATES and on the F. I think your coin is more interesting than most of the variety, and agree it is a solid good. Thanks for sharing!

LanceNewmanOCC

@carabonnair said:
While the 1794 O-101 is the most common variety of all the flowing hair half dollars, the date 1794 is still scarcer than 1795. I would call yours O-101a, because it is a later die state - and you don't usually see the die breaks from the leaf to the second S in STATES and on the F. I think your coin is more interesting than most of the variety, and agree it is a solid good. Thanks for sharing!

fwiw, my quick sampling showed the breaks more often than not, at least on higher grade examples. has this been your experience?

carabonnair

fwiw, my quick sampling showed the breaks more often than not, at least on higher grade examples. has this been your experience?

My mistake - I think you're right. I didn't remember them showing up so clearly on such a circulated example.

LanceNewmanOCC

@carabonnair said:

fwiw, my quick sampling showed the breaks more often than not, at least on higher grade examples. has this been your experience?

My mistake - I think you're right. I didn't remember them showing up so clearly on such a circulated example.

i only pulled up some examples as i already had been doing some 1794 half dollar work and when i saw the op coin and your comment about the breaks, i kinda wanted to see if the one between D & S was actually a break. it kinda looked like it may have been something else from the op pics. (they are good though) i'm always checking on stuff like that to ever hone the eyes, ya know?