Heritage World Coin Auctions
FUN Signature US Coin Sale 1251 4-6 & 8-9 Jan 2017
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Early Half Eagles
1831 $5 Large 5D, BD-2, R.6, MS64 PCGS. CAC. Bass-Dannreuther Die State c/b. The 1831 Capped Head Left half eagle claims a substantial mintage of 140,594 pieces, split between just two die varieties. This coin represents the slightly more available BD-2 variety, recognized by the Large D in the denomination. The BD-2 is seldom encountered in today's market and PCGS CoinFacts estimates the surviving population at 22-26 examples in all grades. The leading grading services have combined to certify a total of 23 specimens including all varieties (9/16). The obverse die was also used to strike the BD-1 variety of 1831 but this was the only use of the reverse die. From recently discovered die evidence, it now appears that the BD-2 variety of 1831 was struck between die marriages of the BD-1 variety.
The 1831 half eagle was recognized as a rarity at an early date, and examples began appearing at auction at least as early as the Fifth Semi-Annual Sale (W. Elliot Woodward, 10/1864), lot 1653:
"1831 Very fine indeed, and extremely rare, the first offered at public sale"
The lot realized realized $40, the third-highest price for any half eagle in the sale, behind the rare 1795 Large Eagle and the extremely rare 1825/4. The lot sold to George Seavey, of Cambridgeport, Massachusetts. We believe this is the same coin that sold for a record price of $646,250 when it was offered in the famous D. Brent Pogue Collection last May.
The present coin is a delightful Choice specimen, with vivid orange-gold surfaces that show only minor signs of contact. The design elements are sharply detailed in most areas, but the reverse shows some loss of detail on the shield stripes, arrow fletchings, and eagle's claws, due to lapping. There is a faint die crack through the lower point of star 5 on the obverse, and a more advanced crack from OF, through the wingtip, and the letters in AMERIC on the reverse. Vibrant satiny mint luster radiates from both sides, with hints of prooflike reflectivity in selected areas. Overall eye appeal is terrific. This remarkable coin was last publicly offered 26 years ago. It will be a welcome addition to a fine collection of early gold die varieties. Population (all varieties): 1 in 64, 2 finer (9/16).
Ex: L.A. Collection of U.S. Type Coins; 55th Anniversary Collection (Stack's, 10/1990), lot 1682.
From The Hutchinson Collection.
1831 $5 Large 5D, BD-2, R.6, MS64 PCGS. CAC. Bass-Dannreuther Die State c/b. The 1831 Capped Head Left half eagle claims a substantial mintage of 140,594 pieces, split between just two die varieties. This coin represents the slightly more available BD-2 variety, recognized by the Large D in the denomination. The BD-2 is seldom encountered in today's market and PCGS CoinFacts estimates the surviving population at 22-26 examples in all grades. The leading grading services have combined to certify a total of 23 specimens including all varieties (9/16). The obverse die was also used to strike the BD-1 variety of 1831 but this was the only use of the reverse die. From recently discovered die evidence, it now appears that the BD-2 variety of 1831 was struck between die marriages of the BD-1 variety.
The 1831 half eagle was recognized as a rarity at an early date, and examples began appearing at auction at least as early as the Fifth Semi-Annual Sale (W. Elliot Woodward, 10/1864), lot 1653:
"1831 Very fine indeed, and extremely rare, the first offered at public sale"
The lot realized realized $40, the third-highest price for any half eagle in the sale, behind the rare 1795 Large Eagle and the extremely rare 1825/4. The lot sold to George Seavey, of Cambridgeport, Massachusetts. We believe this is the same coin that sold for a record price of $646,250 when it was offered in the famous D. Brent Pogue Collection last May.
The present coin is a delightful Choice specimen, with vivid orange-gold surfaces that show only minor signs of contact. The design elements are sharply detailed in most areas, but the reverse shows some loss of detail on the shield stripes, arrow fletchings, and eagle's claws, due to lapping. There is a faint die crack through the lower point of star 5 on the obverse, and a more advanced crack from OF, through the wingtip, and the letters in AMERIC on the reverse. Vibrant satiny mint luster radiates from both sides, with hints of prooflike reflectivity in selected areas. Overall eye appeal is terrific. This remarkable coin was last publicly offered 26 years ago. It will be a welcome addition to a fine collection of early gold die varieties. Population (all varieties): 1 in 64, 2 finer (9/16).
Ex: L.A. Collection of U.S. Type Coins; 55th Anniversary Collection (Stack's, 10/1990), lot 1682.
From The Hutchinson Collection.