½ Dollar "Draped Bust Half Dollar" small eagle (1796) — United States

Overview

A silver ½ Dollar standard circulation coin from the United States, known as the Draped Bust Half Dollar with a small eagle reverse. Struck in 1796 at the Philadelphia mint, this specific variety features 15 stars on the obverse. The total recorded mintage for this year was 3,918 pieces. The coin was designed by Gilbert Stuart with engraving by Robert Scot.

Specifications

Country

United States

Year

1796

Composition

Silver (.8924) (.1076 copper)

Weight

13.48 g

Diameter

32.5 mm

Mint

United States Mint of Philadelphia

Shape

Round

Technique

Milled

References

KM# 26, PCGS# 6057, 6058, etc.

Issuer

United States

Design details

Collector insights

• Design heritage: Gilbert Stuart, Robert Scot is credited as the designer for the Standard circulation coins series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
• Struck at: United States Mint of Philadelphia. Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
• Low mintage: Only 3,918 pieces reported. This puts the issue into key-date territory for its series; expect steep grade-based price scaling and a higher counterfeit risk — provenance and third-party grading matter.
• Precious metal content: Silver (.8924) (.1076 copper) — bullion value provides a price floor, and many circulated examples were melted during the 1979–1980 and post-2010 silver spikes, reducing the surviving population.
• Catalogue reference: Listed as KM# 26, PCGS# 6057, 6058, etc.. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.

Related pieces

Explore more

Browse more items in the full catalog or view United States in the country guide.