Heritage World Coin Auctions
FUN Signature US Coin Sale 1251 4-6 & 8-9 Jan 2017
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Early Half Eagles
1830 $5 Small 5D, BD-2, High R.5, MS63 PCGS. CAC. Bass-Dannreuther Die State b/b. A substantial mintage of 126,351 Capped Head Left half eagles was accomplished in 1830, with only two die varieties known for the date. The coin offered here represents the rare BD-2 variety, with the Small D in the denomination. Although John Dannreuther estimates the surviving population of the BD-2 as a meager 30-40 specimens in all grades, it is seen slightly more often than the BD-1, making the 1830 half eagle quite elusive as a date. The BD-2 probably accounted for 50,000-75,000 pieces of the reported mintage. This was the second use of the obverse die, which was used previously to strike the BD-1 variety of 1830, and the reverse was later employed to strike the very rare BD-1 variety of 1831.
Interestingly, John Dannreuther discovered that the obverse die used to strike both varieties of 1830 is actually a leftover, overdated die from 1829. Unfortunately, the discovery was made after the publication of his series reference in 2006. In a December 29, 2006-dated email, Dannreuther noted:
"All half eagles of 1830 (only one obverse used with two reverse dies) are overdates. Both Bass examples are clear 1830/29's with the curl of the 2 visible in the bottom of the 3 and the 9 clearly visible on both the left of the 0 (know it is very clear on the Bass coins) and the right (the curve of the 9 is very evident on both Bass coins). Kneass (or Eckfeldt or someone else) did an incredible job of punching the 30 exactly over the 29, making this discovery difficult ... it is just like the Bust dime 1830/29 overdates and was done with extreme care!"
The present coin is an impressive Select specimen, with lustrous yellow and orange-gold surfaces that show a few scattered, minor contact marks on both sides. The design elements were strongly impressed, but there is some slight softness on the central reverse, possibly due to lapping. The overall presentation is most attractive.
From The Hutchinson Collection.
1830 $5 Small 5D, BD-2, High R.5, MS63 PCGS. CAC. Bass-Dannreuther Die State b/b. A substantial mintage of 126,351 Capped Head Left half eagles was accomplished in 1830, with only two die varieties known for the date. The coin offered here represents the rare BD-2 variety, with the Small D in the denomination. Although John Dannreuther estimates the surviving population of the BD-2 as a meager 30-40 specimens in all grades, it is seen slightly more often than the BD-1, making the 1830 half eagle quite elusive as a date. The BD-2 probably accounted for 50,000-75,000 pieces of the reported mintage. This was the second use of the obverse die, which was used previously to strike the BD-1 variety of 1830, and the reverse was later employed to strike the very rare BD-1 variety of 1831.
Interestingly, John Dannreuther discovered that the obverse die used to strike both varieties of 1830 is actually a leftover, overdated die from 1829. Unfortunately, the discovery was made after the publication of his series reference in 2006. In a December 29, 2006-dated email, Dannreuther noted:
"All half eagles of 1830 (only one obverse used with two reverse dies) are overdates. Both Bass examples are clear 1830/29's with the curl of the 2 visible in the bottom of the 3 and the 9 clearly visible on both the left of the 0 (know it is very clear on the Bass coins) and the right (the curve of the 9 is very evident on both Bass coins). Kneass (or Eckfeldt or someone else) did an incredible job of punching the 30 exactly over the 29, making this discovery difficult ... it is just like the Bust dime 1830/29 overdates and was done with extreme care!"
The present coin is an impressive Select specimen, with lustrous yellow and orange-gold surfaces that show a few scattered, minor contact marks on both sides. The design elements were strongly impressed, but there is some slight softness on the central reverse, possibly due to lapping. The overall presentation is most attractive.
From The Hutchinson Collection.