1794 FLOWING HAIR 50C AU58

EXTRORDINARY DETAIL WITH SATIN WHITE SURFACES. FIRST YEAR OF ISSUE. ONLY A HANDFUL GRADED HIGHER AT PCGS. The Philadelphia Mint struck its first 5,300 Half Dollars on October 15, 1794. An additional 18,164 examples followed on February 4, 1795 from 1794-dated dies, yielding a total mintage of just 23,464 pieces for this first-year Half. When one considers that the other issue of this type (the 1795) was produced to the extent of 299,680 pieces, the low-mintage, key-date status of the 1794 should be obvious. Indeed, this is an elusive issue in all grades, and most survivors are heavily worn from use in circulation. Even Extremely Fine examples are scarce, and those that grade AU or Mint State and among the rarest Half Dollars of any type or date.