1796 Capped Bust to Right Half Eagle - 1796/5

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Description

This is the 1796/5 overdate variety of the 1796 Capped Bust to Right Half Eagle. Dies were expensive, and a serviceable die left over at the end of a year was often kept and re-dated rather than destroyed: the new digits were punched directly over the old ones. The earlier date survives underneath wherever its strokes fall outside the digits punched over it, which is why an overdate is read from the shapes that do not belong to the date as printed. The effect is in the die, so every coin struck from it carries the same remnant in the same position. Part of the Capped Bust to Right Half Eagles 1795-1807 series, the 1796 Capped Bust to Right Half Eagle - 1796/5 is a Gold Half Eagle from the Philadelphia Mint. Every 1796 Capped Bust to Right Half Eagle is the 1796/5 overdate, so the issue's mintage of 6,196 is this variety's own. The Mint delivered 3,399 half eagles in calendar 1796 and 6,406 in 1797; 6,196 is the share dated 1796. The obverse features Liberty facing right in a tall soft cap, and the reverse displays a small eagle standing on a palm branch with a wreath in its beak. Multiple die varieties exist. The 6 over 5 overdate is collected as a distinct variety. Struck in 91.7% gold, 8.3% silver and copper, weighing 8.75 grams, 25 mm in diameter, with a reeded edge. Cataloged as PCGS #8067.