"The head of Liberty … was designed by [Gilbert] Stuart, the celebrated portrait painter, at the request of the Director, as we learn from a relation of the family.” — James Ross Snowden, 1861

The LIKERTY variety, acquired its name because of the distinctive broken B punch in LIBERTY atop the obverse. This variety is also known as, simply, the Normal Date, a contrast with the 1796/5 overdate. This is the more available of the two half dime varieties of the year, but in absolute terms, especially as compared to later issues, it can be called rare.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the D. Brent Pogue Part I Auction, where it realized $411,250.

1796 Draped Bust LIKERTY Half Dime Auction Highlights

1796 Draped Bust Half Dime, LIKERTY PCGS MS-67+ Sold for $411,250   View Lot 1005

1796 Draped Bust Half Dime, LIKERTY PCGS MS-65 Sold for $94,000   View Lot 1006

1796 Draped Bust Half Dime, LIKERTY NGC MS-65 Sold for $52,800   View Lot 1039