Tag: Flowing Hair

1802 Draped Bust Half Dollar PCGS/CAC AU50

Sirhc

Atypically Original Looking

The first half dollars coined at Philadelphia appeared late in 1794, with a large production the following year, continuing the original Flowing Hair design. Gilbert Stuart’s Draped Bust concept appeared on half dollars in 1796 and 1797, featuring a Small Eagle reverse, and those coins are quite rare. After a brief intermission, the Draped Bust design resumed with a Heraldic Eagle reverse in 1801, and continued through early 1807, skipping coinage dated 1804. The first two issues, 1801 and 1802, are the key dates of that short-lived design type. Mint records indicate a production of 29,890 coins. As is usually the case and you see noted in these offerings, this coin is lighter, as well as more lustrous and appealing looking than portrayed in our images.

Offered at $15,650 delivered

We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you. Give us a call for price indications and to lock trades.

(800) 257.3253
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM CST M-F
Private, Portable, Divisible Wealth Storage

Price is based on payment via ACH, Bank Wire Transfer or Personal Check.
Major Credit Cards Accepted, add 3.5%
Offer subject to availability.

Libertas Americana medal realizes $17,435 in DNW sale

Sirhc

Courtesy of World Coin News Staff Posted on March 20, 2019.


Top billing at DNW’s February coin and medal sale: 1781 Libertas Americana medal, designed by Benjamin Franklin and Esprit-Antoine Gibelin and engraved by Augustin Dupré, which took $17,435 in PCGS MS62 BN. (Images courtesy and © DNW, London)

The American War of Independence achieved top billing at Dix Noonan Webb’s late February coin and medal sale.

On offer was a 47 mm bronze medal engraved by Augustin Dupré celebrating the impending independence of the United States. The design is credited to Benjamin Franklin and Esprit-Antoine Gibelin.

The obverse shows a bust of Liberty complete with flowing hair, liberty cap, and staff.

The reverse has Minerva, representing France as indicated by the fleur-de-lis on her shield, fending off the attack of the British lion on the baby Hercules, who represents the newly emergent American nation. Hercules is strangling a serpent in each hand. The snakes stand for the British armies defeated at the critical Battles of Saratoga and Yorktown (Betts 615; BDM I, 647).

The motto NON SINE DIIS ANIMOSUS INFANS is from Horace’s ode “Descende coelo” and translates “Not without gods is the infant courageous.”

The two dates with a common month, 17 OCT. 1777 and 19 OCT. 1781 in exergue, signify the American victories at Saratoga and Yorktown.

The medals were minted in Paris in gold, silver, and bronze with restrikes made at a later date. Copies were given to the King and Queen of France, the Heads of State of countries friendly to the United States, and important U.S. politicians.

The medal is rare, and in PCGS MS62 BN with just a few inconsequential marks was something of a steal when it realized just $17,435 [£13,200] on a not unreasonable £15,000-£18,000 estimate.