Whole Halves
Private
Updated:
12/6/2025
Views: 90
While starting to focus my collection on silver types, I learned that the halves would be one of the two most difficult to complete; second only to the half dimes, if you mandate the 1792 half disme for that set. The reason for the difficulty of this one is that glaring second slot.
For two years, the early mint produced the Draped Bust half dollar, with that original reverse design; known as the Small Eagle type. Between both years, 1796 & 1797, a combined total of less than 4,000 were ever struck. If each current owner was suddenly willing to part with theirs for some reason, then you would have about 300 survivors to choose from; ranging from grades Poor 1 to Mint State 66.
Even entertaining the thought of budgeting for the Small Eagle sets most of us up to be face-planted by reality. Makes you kinda wish you had a time machine, huh?
But, since I’m not rich, nor can I bounce around different points in time as if rounding up the infinity stones, here I stand with my mid-level assembly. Nevertheless, from Seated to Kennedy, I’m very happy to present my whole halves. (Also, the Walking is my favorite coin design of all time, featured in this set, and I thankfully didn’t have to pay 25 years of wages to attain it in gem grade.)
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