The LM-1 variety of the 1796 Half Dime is known as the LIKERTY variety because of a broken "B" punch in LIBERTY. This is a scarce variety primarily because of the low mintage for the year. Despite its scarcity, more than a dozen examples are known in Mint State. The finest example known to us is the remarkable PCGS MS67+ (illustrated above), formerly in the D. Brent Pogue Collection. When that coin sold in 2015, the price of $412,500 was more than double the previous record for the variety -- set by this very same coin.
LOT 1006 - 1796 Draped Bust Half Dime