This specific coin, a 1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime, is a significant piece of early American coinage.1 The description you’ve provided gives us a lot of information about its condition and attributes:
- 1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime: This is one of the first half dimes minted by the U.S. Mint, a short-lived series from 1794-1795.2 These coins are historically important and highly sought after by collectors of early American currency.3
- LM-3: This refers to the die marriage or variety, as cataloged by Russell Logan and Alan M. Pollock in their book on U.S. half dimes. The “LM” number is a key identifier for collectors of this series. Some die varieties are rarer than others, and this can significantly affect the value. The LM-3 variety, according to some price guides, can range from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on condition.
- ANACS VF35: This is the grading from ANACS, a well-known third-party grading service. “VF35” stands for Very Fine 35 on the Sheldon grading scale. This means the coin has seen moderate circulation but still retains a good amount of detail. The fields and high points will show some wear, but the major design elements, like Liberty’s hair and the eagle’s feathers, will be clearly visible.
- Details – Holed: The “Details” designation from ANACS (and other grading services like PCGS and NGC) is crucial. It means the coin has a “problem” or has been altered from its original state. In this case, the problem is that it has a hole in it.
The Impact of a Hole
A hole in a coin is a form of damage that significantly reduces its value.4 The reason for the hole is often historical—people would punch holes in coins to use them as jewelry, to sew them into clothing for safekeeping, or simply to string them together.
While the “Details” grade means the coin’s value is much lower than a problem-free coin of the same grade, it still has a value due to its age, rarity, and historical significance. The “VF35” grade indicates the amount of original detail remaining, even with the damage.
Value Estimation
It’s impossible to give a precise value without a physical inspection, but here’s a breakdown of how these factors affect the price:
- 1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime (Problem-Free): In a solid VF35 grade, a problem-free 1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime can be worth several thousand dollars or more.
- With a Hole: The “holed” designation will reduce the value by a very large percentage, often more than 50%. However, because the coin is so old and historically significant, it still has value to collectors of “Early American” coins or to those who collect historically damaged coins.
- LM-3 Variety: The specific die marriage can influence the value. If the LM-3 is a rarer variety, it might hold a bit more value than a more common one, even with the hole.
To find a rough estimate of its value, you would need to consult a recent price guide that lists “details” coins or check recent auction results for “holed” 1795 Half Dimes. A holed example in a grade like VF35 might sell for a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars, but its value is highly subjective and depends on the specific hole, the coin’s eye appeal, and the buyer’s interest.
