1806/5 Draped Bust Half Dollar. O-104a, T-1. Rarity-5. Large Stars. VF Details--Cleaned (PCGS).

1806/5 Draped Bust Half Dollar. O-104a, T-1. Rarity-5. Large Stars. VF Details--Cleaned (PCGS).，A rare delight for specialists offering nearly Condition Census sharpness. The surfaces have nicely retoned from an old cleaning, and now display varying shades of golden-bronze iridescence. Both the obverse and reverse dies had been previously employed in 1805, and the resulting fatigue is dramatic. The crack through the final three stars at right is now bold and equivalent to Tompkins Obverse Die Stage 4. On the reverse, a full cud has formed above the letters UN, and the break above ITE is nearly terminal. There is an overall softness to the design elements that is characteristic to this variety, and the actual wear is likely much less than indicated by PCGS. <p>This charming piece can be traced back to Kagins August 1977 ANA sale where it was catalogued by Walter Breen as "Extremely Fine or better, many others weaker, believed largely as struck." A sole AU-55 (PCGS) ranks at the top of the Condition Census, the balance of which is comprised of EF and Choice EF examples. The present piece from the Sutton Court Collection is an appealing entry into this Rarity-5 population, and is now available for the first time in over 30 years.，From the Sutton Court Collection of Early Half Dollar Varieties. Earlier ex from Kagins ANA sale of August 1977, lot 1406; Kagins Great Eastern Numismatic Association sale of September 1981, lot 853; Kagins sale of February 1987, lot 3456.，