The 1795 Draped Bust Half Eagle (Buy on eBay) with the heraldic eagle reverse is believed to have been struck in 1797 or 1798. The issue combines an old 1795-dated obverse die with a new reverse die carrying the design introduced in 1797. This mismatch results in the obverse having 15 stars, while the reverse has 16 stars due to the admission of Tennessee as a state in 1796.
The exact mintage of the issue is unknown and included in the mintage figure for 1798. An estimated 35 to 40 pieces are believed to still exist.
One of the finest known examples graded PCGS MS-64 sold for $282,000 at auction in 2015.
Coin Specifications
- Designer: Robert Scot
- Composition: 91.67% Gold, 8.33% Silver and Copper
- Weight: 8.75 grams
- Diameter: 25 mm
- Edge: Reeded
