The overdate seen on this variety is one of the boldest in the entire realm of American coinage, easily as plain as the 1942/1-D dime, 1918/7-D nickel, 1918/7-S quarter, and other well-known but comparatively common overdates. The 5 underdigit has not been effaced at all, though the flag of the 7 lines up precisely enough with the flag of the 5 to mask it.

Three die varieties of 1797 half eagle are known with the Heraldic Eagle reverse. David Akers posited that 12 to 15 specimens were known, while Dannreuther suggested 16 to 20 in all grades.

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the D. Brent Pogue Part II Auction, where it realized $223,250.