Images courtesy of Superior Galleries

Recent appearances:
ANACS EF-40.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Cabinet of Lucien M. LaRiviere, Part III", May 21, 2001, Lot 1492, illustrated, sold for $43,700.00  From the sale of the Herman Halpern & Gerald O. Warner Collections, March 1997, Lot 2363

XF-40 Cleaned, Retoned, Expert Repair Obverse/Reverse" (illustrated above).  Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Philadelphia 2000" sale, August 6-7, 2000, Lot 5284, "O-101", plated, unsold

NGC VF-25 (illustrated above).  Ex - Superior Galleries' "Pre-Long Beach" Sale, October 1-3, 2000, Lot 3263, where it was described as follows: "Overton-101. NGC VF25. Fifteen stars on obverse. Combined mintage for 1796-7 was 3,918. Well centered on a perfectly formed, defect-free planchet, with complete lettering, date numerals and stars, and detail in the hair and some in the lower drapery. Not seen on either the Quarter Dollar or Half Dollar with small eagle is the denomination "1/2" in the space below the ribbon bow on reverse.  This is an important and highly coveted two year Type. The mint, as it did with the Bust Dollar, soon changed the reverse design to incorporate the heraldic eagle of the Great Seal of the United States."  Notice the die break on the reverse from the left edge to the eagle's wing.

PCGS Fine-12.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles "The Fairchild Family Trust Collection" Sale, May 28-30, 2001, Lot 695, illustrated, sold for $16,675.00,  where it was described as follows: "1797. 15 stars, Overton-101a, Rarity-5. PCGS graded Fine-12. Nice and original, but weak on the right obverse stars. We also note minor adjustment marks hidden in the hair. The obverse die has a crack through the second star into Liberty's hair, and the reverse is shattered through STA. One of the lowest mintages of all regular issue silver coins, and downright hard to find in any decent grade. It is believed that 3,918 of the 1796 and 1797 half dollars were struck, then the design was changed to the heraldic eagle reverse. Of all the small eagle silver coins (half dime, dime, quarter, half dollar and silver dollar) this was the only one with the denomination displayed below the wreath on the reverse. This coin appears to be original, with steel gray toning and clean surfaces for the grade. In an old style green label PCGS holder, and truly rare in any grade."

PCGS Fine-12 Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Philadelphia 2000 Signature Sale", August 6-7, 2000, Lot 5971, "Overton-101a", illustrated, sold for $17,250.00

PCGS Fine-12.  Ex - William Walser - Bowers & Merena Galleries "The Rarities Sale", July 31, 2002, Lot 284, illustrated, "Overton 101a", sold for $19,550.00

VG-8 Cleaned, Holed, Plugged.  Ex-  Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "October 2000 Long Beach Sale", October 5-7, 2000, Lot 6802, "Overton-101a, Rarity-5", illustrated, sold for $8,912.50

Sources and/or recommended reading (click to order):
"Early Half Dollar Die Varieties, Third Edition" by Al C. Overton and Don Parsley