1806 Draped Bust Half Dollar. O-123, T-23. Rarity-6. Pointed 6, Stem Through Claw. AU Details--Impro

1806 Draped Bust Half Dollar. O-123, T-23. Rarity-6. Pointed 6, Stem Through Claw. AU Details--Improperly Cleaned (NGC).，The NGC holder does not indicate that this is the prime die state (O-123), though the dies are explicitly without cracks and virtually perfect. The devices are sharply rendered for the variety, showing just a faint weakness at the central reverse and remaining impressively sharp near the borders. An overall muted complexion hints at an earlier cleaning, though there are no hairlines or distracting brightness. Inspection will reveal a few old pinscratches across the obverse, though these are entirely unnoticed to the naked eye. <p>This early die state is notably scarcer than the later, cracked state (O-123) with an arcing break from TED through STATES. This piece ranks near the top of the Condition Census for the prime state, with just a single AU-58 (NGC) example ranking finer. The population then falls to the EF level, with the Jules Reiver coin (VF-25 NGC) at the lower end. This is an important offering for specialists last offered in Superiors Sale of June 1986.，From the Sutton Court Collection of Early Half Dollar Varieties. Earlier ex from Superior Galleries sale of June 1986, lot 809.，