Draped Bust (Small Eagle Reverse) 1796-1797
The obverse of the draped bust half dime was based on a sketch by artist Gilbert Stuart, with the dies engraved by Robert Scot and John Eckstein. The primary 1796 variety bears fifteen stars representing the then number of states in the union. In 1797, fifteen and sixteen star varieties were produced - the sixteenth star representing newly admitted Tennessee - as well as a thirteen star variety after the mint realized that it could not continue to add more stars as additional states joined the union. The reverse bears an open wreath surrounding a small eagle perched on a cloud. 54,757 half dimes of this design were minted.
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Famous quotes containing the words draped, bust and/or eagle:
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“They’ll bust you in the lobby. You look like a training poster for the narc squad.”
—John Guare (b. 1938)
“Sleep softly . . . eagle forgotten . . . under the stone.”
—Vachel Lindsay (1879–1931)