Draped Bust Half Dollar

About This Series

Robert Scot designed the Draped Bust half dollar in two reverse types: a Small Eagle used only in 1796 and 1797, and a Heraldic Eagle from 1801 through 1807. Only two dates of the Small Eagle type were struck, both very scarce; the 1796 with 15 stars is rarer than the 16-star version. This is early American coinage territory: quantities were low, survival was unpredictable, and most examples show heavy circulation. Still, these are among the earliest half dollars the US Mint ever struck, and collector demand stays strong regardless of condition.