1796 50C 16 Stars Draped Bust Half Dollar PCGS VF25

Add a cornerstone rarity to your early U.S. type set with this 1796 Draped Bust Small Eagle Half Dollar, the elusive 16 Stars obverse variety, certified PCGS VF25 (Cert #3244492) and struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The 1796–1797 Draped Bust, Small Eagle half dollar is widely regarded as the rarest United States silver type coin, and the 1796 date is a celebrated key that commands strong demand in every grade due to its historic status and genuine scarcity. The 1796 issue is collected in two primary obverse star varieties: 15 Stars and 16 Stars. The 16 Stars variety is especially intriguing to specialists, with an estimated mintage of approximately 365 pieces (versus about 569 for the 15 Stars). Despite the lower estimated mintage, the 16 Stars variety is noted for appearing in auction with surprising regularity, a long-observed market quirk that adds to the variety’s mystique and encourages deeper study among advanced collectors. In Very Fine condition, this half dollar offers substantial design detail and clear visual definition where it matters most: the Draped Bust portrait, the star count, and the Small Eagle reverse type that defines the earliest federal half dollars. A VF25 example is an ideal balance of affordability and collectability for a coin that is considered expensive even in the lowest grades, making it a compelling choice for both serious numismatists and history-minded buyers seeking an authentic early Mint silver classic. Key details Date, type: 1796 Draped Bust Half Dollar, Small Eagle reverse Variety: 16 Stars obverse Mint: Philadelphia Grade: PCGS VF25 Certification: PCGS Cert #3244492 Population data: 5 in this grade, 12 graded higher Why collectors pursue this coin Premier early U.S. silver type: a foundational issue of the first federal half dollars High historical importance: struck during the earliest years of the United States Mint True rarity with strong demand: a key date and a key variety within an already scarce type Recognized market pedigree for the variety: the 16 Stars is a well-discussed and closely followed specialist issue A 1796 16 Stars Draped Bust half dollar in PCGS VF25 is a serious, storied piece of early American numismatic history—an advanced-type rarity that remains perennially desirable across collector levels.