The 1806 Knob 6, No Stem O-108 Bust half dollar is one of the greatest rarities in the Draped Bust half Dollar series. Examples have been avidly sought after by series specialists for decades.
The variety was discovered by Walter Breen when he studied the coin in the Philip Straus Collection in 1951. Breen observed the O-108 was an easily attributed “naked eye type” and noted it was “comparable in importance to the 1817/4 overdate.”
Only seven examples have been identified, with six pieces certified by PCGS. Our Long Beach Signature Auction features the most recent example to be discovered. It was held in a single Pennsylvania Collection for 60 years before Rich Uhrich acquired it in 2013.
Heritage Auctions is privileged to offer this important early rarity in its first auction appearance.
The coin offered here is an impressive Fine 12 specimen, with pleasing dove-gray and blue-steel surfaces that show only minor abrasions and minimal wear for the grade. Like all examples seen, the strike is somewhat soft in areas like Liberty’s chest and some stars on the obverse. Likewise, clouds six and seven show the typical softness seen on all examples and dentilation is weak on the right reverse rim. Liberty’s hair ends are all discernible and some interior detail remains intact in her hair. The overall presentation is quite attractive for this landmark early rarity.
