Heritage World Coin Auctions
CSNS Signature US Coin Sale 1254 26-28 Apr 2017
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Early Half Eagles
1818 $5 STATESOF, BD-2, R.4, MS62 NGC. Bass-Dannreuther Die State c. The 1818 Capped Head Left half eagle claims a mintage of 48,588 pieces, an average production total in the context of the series. Three die varieties have been identified for the date, including the extremely popular STATESOF variety, BD-2, represented by the coin offered here. The BD-2 is the most available of the three 1818 varieties, but it is still a scarce issue, with a surviving population of 100-125 examples in all grades. The flat top 5 in the denominator seems to be from the punch used on the famous 1815 half eagle, and some earlier dies, indicating this reverse die may have been prepared at some previous date and set aside until it was pressed into service in 1818. This was the only use of both obverse and reverse dies, and no terminal state of the reverse has been seen. It may be that Mint personnel noticed the blundered lettering and retired the die before it failed.
The present coin is an attractive MS62 specimen with sharply detailed design elements throughout. The obverse is in an advanced state, with a bisecting die crack from the rim, through the second 8 in the date, through the bust to star 6, and on to the rim at 11 o'clock. Like all examples seen, the reverse is rotated about 45 degrees clockwise from normal. The vivid orange-gold surfaces are lightly marked and retain much of their original mint luster. Overall eye appeal is quite strong.
From The Hutchinson Collection, Part II.
HID02901242017
1818 $5 STATESOF, BD-2, R.4, MS62 NGC. Bass-Dannreuther Die State c. The 1818 Capped Head Left half eagle claims a mintage of 48,588 pieces, an average production total in the context of the series. Three die varieties have been identified for the date, including the extremely popular STATESOF variety, BD-2, represented by the coin offered here. The BD-2 is the most available of the three 1818 varieties, but it is still a scarce issue, with a surviving population of 100-125 examples in all grades. The flat top 5 in the denominator seems to be from the punch used on the famous 1815 half eagle, and some earlier dies, indicating this reverse die may have been prepared at some previous date and set aside until it was pressed into service in 1818. This was the only use of both obverse and reverse dies, and no terminal state of the reverse has been seen. It may be that Mint personnel noticed the blundered lettering and retired the die before it failed.
The present coin is an attractive MS62 specimen with sharply detailed design elements throughout. The obverse is in an advanced state, with a bisecting die crack from the rim, through the second 8 in the date, through the bust to star 6, and on to the rim at 11 o'clock. Like all examples seen, the reverse is rotated about 45 degrees clockwise from normal. The vivid orange-gold surfaces are lightly marked and retain much of their original mint luster. Overall eye appeal is quite strong.
From The Hutchinson Collection, Part II.
HID02901242017