Heritage World Coin Auctions
CSNS Signature US Coin Sale 1254 26-28 Apr 2017
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Early Half Eagles
1797 $5 Small Eagle, 15 Stars, BD-1, R.7 -- Reverse Repaired -- NGC Details. AU. Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/a. A minuscule mintage of 3,609 Capped Bust Right half eagles was accomplished in 1797, using the old Small Eagle reverse. Four die varieties are known for the date and type. Three more varieties of 1797-dated half eagles were struck later (probably in 1798), using the Large Eagle reverse. All the varieties are rare (three of them are unique), making the 1797 half eagle quite elusive as a date. Of the four Small Eagle varieties, two employ obverse dies with 15 stars, while the other two varieties were produced using a single 16-star obverse die. This coin represents the very rare BD-1 variety, with a wide date and 15 stars on the obverse. The surviving population of the BD-1 variety numbers no more than 10-15 examples in all grades and it probably accounted for 500-1,000 pieces of the reported mintage. This was the only use of the obverse die, but the reverse was used again to strike the 1797 BD-2 variety.
The present coin shows only light wear on the well-detailed design elements, with some very faint planchet adjustment marks on the reverse rim at 12 o'clock. The lightly abraded orange-gold surfaces retain traces of original mint luster and the noted repair on the eagle is barely detectable. The minor defects of this still-attractive piece are easily overlooked when one considers the rarity of the issue and we expect intense competition when this lot crosses the auction block.
From The Hutchinson Collection, Part II.
HID02901242017
1797 $5 Small Eagle, 15 Stars, BD-1, R.7 -- Reverse Repaired -- NGC Details. AU. Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/a. A minuscule mintage of 3,609 Capped Bust Right half eagles was accomplished in 1797, using the old Small Eagle reverse. Four die varieties are known for the date and type. Three more varieties of 1797-dated half eagles were struck later (probably in 1798), using the Large Eagle reverse. All the varieties are rare (three of them are unique), making the 1797 half eagle quite elusive as a date. Of the four Small Eagle varieties, two employ obverse dies with 15 stars, while the other two varieties were produced using a single 16-star obverse die. This coin represents the very rare BD-1 variety, with a wide date and 15 stars on the obverse. The surviving population of the BD-1 variety numbers no more than 10-15 examples in all grades and it probably accounted for 500-1,000 pieces of the reported mintage. This was the only use of the obverse die, but the reverse was used again to strike the 1797 BD-2 variety.
The present coin shows only light wear on the well-detailed design elements, with some very faint planchet adjustment marks on the reverse rim at 12 o'clock. The lightly abraded orange-gold surfaces retain traces of original mint luster and the noted repair on the eagle is barely detectable. The minor defects of this still-attractive piece are easily overlooked when one considers the rarity of the issue and we expect intense competition when this lot crosses the auction block.
From The Hutchinson Collection, Part II.
HID02901242017