An 1805 Draped Bust half dime is challenging in all grades, and rarely is one offered with nearly full Mint State details.

Stack’s Bowers Galleries presented one graded About Uncirculated 58 by Numismatic Guaranty Co. at its April 5 Rarities Night auction, where bidders chased it to $10,800.

The entire mintage of 15,600, as reported in the “Red Book,” was struck from a single die pair, and the issue represented the last year of the type.

When the denomination would be struck again, starting in 1829, dies would bear the Capped Bust design.

The offered half dime had a typical imperfect strike, with the cataloger writing, “Satiny in texture and impressively smooth, both sides are warmly toned in silver-rose and light steel patina. Vivid multicolored undertones include reddish-pink, champagne-gold and powder blue.”

With most survivors well-circulated, and any Mint State example a rarity, this choice AU little half dime provided a solid compromise.

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