1795 Half Dollar - 1795 50C PCGS XF45 CAC. O-104, R4. This lightly circulated 1795 Half Dollar Flowing Hair is attractively toned and well centered. The strike is above average with good details on Libertys hair. Unlike many coins of this date and type, the dentils are sharp on both sides. The surfaces are original and pristine for the grade with no notable abrasion marks. Adjustment marks which are often present on these coins are absent. The CAC sticker indicates that the coin is a premium quality piece and fully merits the grade assigned.

The coin is identified as the O-104 variety because of the obverse die defect that is below and close to Star 15. Two points of Star 1 almost touch the lowest curl. The end of the second curl is high above Star 2. Two small lumps are on the letter B in LIBERTY. A die crack from the dentils above the L joins the letters IBERTY at their tops and Star 9 to the edge near Star 10. Stars 9 and 13 are also joined by another die crack. The reverse has a leaf point between the R and I in AMERICA. It is closer to the base of the R. The M is recut at its left serifs. A small line joins the ribbon knot to the rock above and shows below the right ribbon. There is a die crack from the edge through the first A in AMERICA, and one from the edge through the letter C.

First authorized in 1792, the half dollar was not minted until 1794. Chief Coiner Henry Voigt and Assayer Albion Cox could not raise the $10,000 bond required to take office. For this reason, only copper coins were made in 1793. To ameliorate this situation, Thomas Jefferson wrote to President Washington asking him to request that Congress lower the bond requirement. He ultimately prevailed, and Robert Scot, the new Engraver made the dies for the half dollar.

The Flowing Hair half dollar was issued from 1794 to 1795. It showed Liberty facing right surrounded with 8 six-pointed stars on the left of LIBERTY and 7 on the right with the date blow. The Small Eagle reverse showed a thin eagle looking right with outstretched wings. It is perched on a cloud and surrounded by a wreath tied in a bow at the bottom. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds the design with dentils on both sides. The denomination is on the edge of the coin as FIFTY CENTS OR A HALF DOLLAR. The denomination not being on the coin itself was not unusual. The early Mint imitated the Europeans who did not place denominations on coins because they were made of precious metals and were valued as commodities by their weight and fineness.

Robert Scot designed the half dollar. Because of failing eye sight and advanced age his ability to make dies was limited. His work was somewhat less than that done in Europe at the time, and Scot was criticized for its poor quality. He was responsible for designs of most of Americas first coins. These include the Flowing Hair and the Draped Bust motifs used on early silver coins, and the gold quarter eagle, half eagle and eagle. Scot also designed the 1794-1797 half-cent, the 1800-1808 draped bust half-cent, and the Thomas Jefferson Indian Peace Medal. Scot died on November 1, 1823 and was succeeded by William Kneass as Chief Engraver.

The 0-104 is a rare variety of the 1795 Half Dollar. The R4 designation means that 81 to 200 are known in all grades. In its population report, NGC shows 1, the present coin, in XF45 with 2 better. PCGS does not list this variety in its report. In is population report, as of October 2012, CAC shows 10 1795 half dollars in XF45 condition with 13 better. CAC does not differentiate this variety either.