Scarce and extremely rare U.S. Draped Bust Half Dollars (Halves) at Mintmark.com.
". . . In 1796 the style was changed to the draped bust configuration. The reverse depicted a small eagle perched on a cloud. This design, minted in very limited quantities in 1796 and 1797, is considered to be the rarest major half dollar type. No half dollars were coined with dates 1798 to 1800. In 1801 the half dollar again appeared. The design featured Scot's draped bust on the obverse. The reverse was of the heraldic eagle style. This was continued through 1807 . . . Half dollars of the early years have formed the object of several important studies and references, including M. L. Beistle's Register of United States Half Dollar Varieties and Sub-Varieties and Al C. Overton's Early Half Dollar Varieties 1794-1836 . . ." — The History of United States Coinage: As Illustrated by the Garrett Collection, by Q. David Bowers
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