Pre-Long Beach Auction #84

1794 O-101 Rarity 4. PCGS graded VG-10. CAC Approved. Overton 101 is distinguishable by star1 pierces Liberty's lowest curl from the bottom, and, on the wreath, the pattern of berries is 10 (left) by 11 (right) for a total count of 21, the only reverse with this berry arrangement. This is the first year of the two-year Flowing Hair half dollar type. A relatively low mintage of 23,464 pieces combined with an extremely low survival rate, makes this a very scarce, premier year date that is coveted by all half dollar collectors. Lovely natural gray surfaces with deeper argent tones in the obverse field. Good detail and discernible rims remain despite the heavy wear throughout. A single lateral mark is noted on Liberty's hair, and a tiny rim nick near the top of the reverse will serve as future identifiers.

The popular O-101 marriage is thought to be one of the last varieties of the 1794 half dollar to be coined, despite Overton's order of listing. It is probably part of the 18,164-piece delivery on February 4, 1795 from 1794-dated dies. Further study has found the O-101 (which is the most affordable of all 1794 die marriages), obverse die was also used for O-102, while the reverse die was used on O-106, 107, and 108, each an important rarity (PCGS # 6051) .
Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000.