Heritage World Coin Auctions
FUN Signature US Coin Sale 1251 4-6 & 8-9 Jan 2017
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Early Half Eagles
1813 $5 BD-2, R.4, MS64 PCGS. CAC. Bass-Dannreuther Die State d/b. The half eagle design was modified in 1813, with the size of the portrait reduced and the stars placed in a continuous arc, instead of the old 7x6 arrangement on either side of the bust. The new design is called the Capped Head Left in the 2017 Guide Book, but the Bass-Dannreuther series reference retains the old Capped Bust Left nomenclature, distinguishing between the two designs by adding the designations Large Bust or Small Bust type. The reported mintage was a respectable 95,428 pieces, with only two die varieties known for the date. Both varieties used the same obverse die, but this coin shows the first S in STATES nearly centered over the E in E PLURIBUS, identifying the less available BD-2 variety. The BD-2 has a surviving population of 150-200 pieces in all grades and probably accounted for 15,000-25,000 examples of the reported mintage. The reverse die was used again to strike all half eagles of 1814 and 1815.
The present coin is an impressive Choice specimen with sharply detailed design elements throughout. A faint lateral die crack is seen from the tip of the bust to the rim on the obverse, while another crack is visible on the reverse, through the D and period in the denomination. The pleasing orange and reddish-gold surfaces show few signs of contact, with subtle satiny mint luster on both sides. Population: 1 in 64, 1 finer (11/16).
1813 $5 BD-2, R.4, MS64 PCGS. CAC. Bass-Dannreuther Die State d/b. The half eagle design was modified in 1813, with the size of the portrait reduced and the stars placed in a continuous arc, instead of the old 7x6 arrangement on either side of the bust. The new design is called the Capped Head Left in the 2017 Guide Book, but the Bass-Dannreuther series reference retains the old Capped Bust Left nomenclature, distinguishing between the two designs by adding the designations Large Bust or Small Bust type. The reported mintage was a respectable 95,428 pieces, with only two die varieties known for the date. Both varieties used the same obverse die, but this coin shows the first S in STATES nearly centered over the E in E PLURIBUS, identifying the less available BD-2 variety. The BD-2 has a surviving population of 150-200 pieces in all grades and probably accounted for 15,000-25,000 examples of the reported mintage. The reverse die was used again to strike all half eagles of 1814 and 1815.
The present coin is an impressive Choice specimen with sharply detailed design elements throughout. A faint lateral die crack is seen from the tip of the bust to the rim on the obverse, while another crack is visible on the reverse, through the D and period in the denomination. The pleasing orange and reddish-gold surfaces show few signs of contact, with subtle satiny mint luster on both sides. Population: 1 in 64, 1 finer (11/16).