1795 50C Small Head VG10 Certification #10347468, PCGS #6054

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

T-18, DS-1/2. Rarity: R-5+.

Expert Comments

Ron Guth

The 1795 Small Head Half Dollar is a distinctive type with an appearance much different from that of the "normal" 1795 heads. The length of the curls is shorter than usual, the truncation line is flatter and has an extra loop as if the portrait is a piece of statuary. Three different 1795-dated obverse dies qualify as Small Heads (Overton, 39-41): Obv. 15, 16, and 17. All are scarce to rare. Robert Hilt attributes all the Small Head obverses to John Smith Gardner.

PCGS (as of May 2011) has certified 49 examples of the Small Head 1795 Half Dollar, most of which are in Very Fine or lower grades. The PCGS Condition Census contains no Extremely Fine examples, only three About Uncirculated examples, and a single PCGS MS-62.

Sources and/or recommended reading:
Hilt II, Robert P. Die Varieties of EarlyUnited States Coins. Omaha: RTS Publishing Company, 1980.

Overton, Al. C. Early Half Dollar Die Varietes: 1794-1836. Edited by Don Parlsey. Escondido: D.L. Parsley, 1990.

PCGS #

6054

Designer

Robert Scot

Edge

Lettered: FIFTY CENTS OR HALF A DOLLAR

Diameter

32.50 millimeters

Weight

13.48 grams

Mintage

299680

Metal

90% Silver, 10% Copper

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Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	400	R-6.2	2 / 6 TIE	2 / 6 TIE
All Grades	1	R-10.0	1 / 6	1 / 6
60 or Better	0	R-10.1	1 / 6	1 / 6

Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.
65 or Better	400
All Grades	1
60 or Better	0

Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.
65 or Better	R-6.2
All Grades	R-10.0
60 or Better	R-10.1

Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	2 / 6 TIE
All Grades	1 / 6
60 or Better	1 / 6

Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	2 / 6 TIE
All Grades	1 / 6
60 or Better	1 / 6

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS62 PCGS grade	Lord St. Oswald Collection - Christie’s 10/1964:144 - Reed Hawn Collection - Stack’s 8/1973:3 - Dr. George F. Oviedo Collection - Stack’s 9/1983:722 - William R. Orwen Collection - Stack’s 10/1999:341, $89,125 - D. Brent Pogue Collection - Stack’s/Bowers & Sotheby’s 5/2015:1099, $199,750
2	AU58 PCGS grade
3	AU55 PCGS grade
3	AU55 PCGS grade
5	AU50 estimated grade

#1 MS62 PCGS grade

Lord St. Oswald Collection - Christie’s 10/1964:144 - Reed Hawn Collection - Stack’s 8/1973:3 - Dr. George F. Oviedo Collection - Stack’s 9/1983:722 - William R. Orwen Collection - Stack’s 10/1999:341, $89,125 - D. Brent Pogue Collection - Stack’s/Bowers & Sotheby’s 5/2015:1099, $199,750

#2 AU58 PCGS grade

#3 AU55 PCGS grade

#5 AU50 estimated grade