1797 15 Star Half Dime For Grading

Au50

AU-55

AU-55. Again, very nice.

NGC graded this AU-53, which is pretty much on the money. I'm glad that no one fell into trap, and downgraded this piece because of the lack of feather detail on the eagle. That little eagle almost never shows any detail, except on the right wing. The coin could be an MS-65, and you would not no additional detail. His taller brother, which appears on the 1797, 13 star, a second variety of 1797 16 star, and the 1796 Half Dimes shows a great deal more design detail.

This coin is in an old NGC holder. Given the affects of "grade-flation" this coin might get a couple more points if it were to be submitted today.

It is interesting to note the last "7" in the date. It is smaller than the first "7" which indicates that that the die was made with the first three digits punched in and then the last one was added when it was put into service.

I'm late but certainly wouldn't have guessed 53. When you don't know a series at all it is tough! This one looked XF to me.

The weakness of feather detail for the eagle on the reverse is due to a defective die. Virtually all of the pictures of the coins that I have seen that were made from this die show no more detail that this piece. The only picture I have that had full detail was in a 19th century book and may well have been totally retouched.

These coins were made at a time when mint was facing its darkest hours. A significant number of Congressmen were looking to shut it down and hand over the responsibility for U.S. coinage to the private sector. Morale was low, and quality of some of the coins reflected that.