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CSNS Signature US Coin Sale 1254 26-28 Apr 2017
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Early Half Eagles
1829 $5 Large Diameter, Large Date, BD-1, R.7 -- Mount Removed -- NGC Details. Fine. Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/c, the only known die state. The introduction of the revolutionary close collar technology in 1829 resulted in two distinct design types for the year, the old Large Diameter, Large Date, BD-1 variety, like the present coin, and the new Reduced Diameter, Small Date, BD-2 variety. The planchets were not restricted by the collar when striking the Large Diameter issue, resulting in coins that were often not precisely centered, with slightly irregular diameters. The old, large set of punches was used on the date and lettering of the BD-1 coins, as well. This was the only use of the BD-1 obverse die, but the reverse was previously used to strike the BD-2, BD-3, and BD-4 varieties of 1828.
A relatively large mintage of 57,442 half eagles was accomplished in 1829, split between the two types. Based on delivery records, Walter Breen notes the mintage for the BD-1 type was either 25,336 pieces, if the three deliveries before June 30 were all Large Date specimens, or 41,516 coins, if the deliveries up to September 22 were all Large Date pieces. Of course, there is no guarantee that all deliveries were exclusively one type or the other. At least one delivery may have included coins of both varieties, so this is really speculation. Both types are very rare today and our latest roster (see below) traces only seven BD-1 examples extant. One proof specimen is known and another one-sided proof is included in the collection of the Harry Bass Foundation. Of the other five coins, two are impounded in institutional collections, leaving only three regular-issue coins available to collectors.
The coin offered here exhibits well-worn orange-gold surfaces that retain traces of original mint luster. A few hints of red and amber patina are evident in selected areas. The coin is well-centered, but shows evidence of being bent and straightened at one time. This piece was used in jewelry, with signs of both mount and solder removal on the reverse. Despite the noted damage, this coin remains a prize for the series specialist, an example of one of the rarest coins in the U.S. federal series.
Roster of 1829 Large Date Half Eagles
1. PR64 PCGS. Owned by Joseph J. Mickley by 1867 and probably before 1858, when he mentioned the 1829 half eagles in his monograph, Dates of United States Coins and Their Degrees of Rarity; W. Elliot Woodward; William Sumner Appleton; W. Elliot Woodward (privately, 1/1883); T. Harrison Garrett; Robert Garrett; John Work Garrett; The Johns Hopkins University (Bowers and Ruddy, 11/1979), lot 471; Stack's (10/1988), lot 82; 1989 ANA (Bowers and Merena, 8/1989), lot 548; Michael I. Keston Collection (Superior, 1/1996), lot 120; Harvey Jacobson; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2012), lot 4681, realized $1,380,000.
2. PR65/MS65, One-Sided Proof. David S. Wilson (S.H. Chapman, 3/1907), lot 79; Virgil M. Brand; Armin Brand; Frieda Brand; Jane Brand Allen; Virgil M. Brand Collection (Bowers and Merena, 11/1983), lot 280; Auction '85 (Superior, 7/1985), lot 941; Harry W. Bass, Jr; Bass Core Collection. Probably ex: Col. Mendes I. Cohen Collection (Edward Cogan, 10/1875), lot 149; John W. Haseltine; J. Colvin Randall Collection (W.E. Woodward, 6/1885), lot 934. Several researchers have suggested that the Cohen specimen went to Lorin G. Parmelee, but that now appears doubtful.
3. MS66+ PCGS. Possibly Rev. Foster Ely (Scott Stamp & Coin Co., 11/1888), lot 42; James V. Dexter;
Harlan Page Smith Collection (Chapman Brothers, 5/1906), lot 218; John H. Clapp; Clapp Estate (1942); Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; Eliasberg Estate (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 387; Marvin Browder; RARCOA; D. Brent Pogue Collection (Stack's Bowers/Sotheby's, 5/2016), lot 4036, realized $763,750.
4. MS66 ICG. Lorin G. Parmelee Collection (New York Coin & Stamp Co., 6/1890), lot 988; Byron Reed Collection; Omaha City Library/Western Heritage Museum. Probably ex: W.E. Woodward (Sixth Semi-Annual Sale, 3/1865), lot 2780; William Strobridge; then possibly to George Seavey, who exhibited an 1829 half eagle at the Boston Numismatic Society on February 4, 1869; Seavey Descriptive Catalog (William Strobridge, 6/1873), lot 490; Lorin G. Parmelee, who bought the entire Seavey Collection en masse before the sale; Parmelee Collection (Strobridge, 6/1873), lot 789, withdrawn. Heritage numismatist David Stone believes that this coin, offered as a duplicate from the Parmelee Collection, was withdrawn from the sale when Parmelee realized that it was a Large Date, and therefore not a duplicate.
5. MS65 PCGS. William Woodin; Waldo Newcomer; "Col." E.H.R. Green; King Farouk (Sotheby's, 2/1954), part of lot 244; Dr. Clifford Smith (Stack's, 5/1955), lot 1691; 1976 ANA (Stack's, 2/1976), lot 2945; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 820.
6. MS63. Peter Mougey Collection (Thomas Elder, 9/1910), lot 1075; S.H. Chapman; Col. James W. Ellsworth; Wayte Raymond; William Cutler Atwater Collection (B. Max Mehl, 6/1946), lot 1646; Josiah K. Lilly, Jr. Collection; Smithsonian Institution. The early provenance to Atwater is tentative but convincing.
7. Fine Details NGC. Possibly discovered in Europe (per Kagin's) or, alternatively, an unidentified old lady, per Walter Breen; Coen and Messer (New York); William Fox Steinberg; Edwin Shapiro; 1964 ANA (Federal Brand Enterprises, 8/1964), lot 2863; Greater Houston Sale (Bebee, 1/1966), lot 552; Grand Central Sale (Paramount, 11/1966); MANA Convention Auction (Kagin's 11/1974), lot 1617; 1986 FUN Sale (Mid-American, 1/1986), lot 2029; 1997 ANA Signature (Heritage, 7/1997), lot 5203. The damaged reverse of this coin was altered again between its appearance in the 1986 FUN Sale and the 1997 ANA Signature. The present coin.
Other Appearances
A. McCoy Collection (W. Elliot Woodward, 5/1864), lot 1958; J.O. Emery; Heman Ely (W. Elliot Woodward, 1/1884), lot 841.
B. Fifth Semi-Annual Sale (W. Elliot Woodward, 10/1864), lot 1652; J.O. Emery; Emery, Taylor & Loomis Collections (W. Elliot Woodward, 3/1880), lot 1012.
C. William J. Jenks Collection (Edward Cogan, 4/1877), lot 346.
D. Phineas Adams; William J. Jenks; Sixty-Ninth Sale (John W. Haseltine, 6/1883), lot 363; Harold P. Newlin. This coin was offered to T. Harrison Garrett in October 1883, but he already owned an example, so he returned this piece to Newlin.
E. W. Elliot Woodward Collection (Woodward, 10/1884), lot 1157.
From The Hutchinson Collection, Part II.
HID02901242017
1829 $5 Large Diameter, Large Date, BD-1, R.7 -- Mount Removed -- NGC Details. Fine. Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/c, the only known die state. The introduction of the revolutionary close collar technology in 1829 resulted in two distinct design types for the year, the old Large Diameter, Large Date, BD-1 variety, like the present coin, and the new Reduced Diameter, Small Date, BD-2 variety. The planchets were not restricted by the collar when striking the Large Diameter issue, resulting in coins that were often not precisely centered, with slightly irregular diameters. The old, large set of punches was used on the date and lettering of the BD-1 coins, as well. This was the only use of the BD-1 obverse die, but the reverse was previously used to strike the BD-2, BD-3, and BD-4 varieties of 1828.
A relatively large mintage of 57,442 half eagles was accomplished in 1829, split between the two types. Based on delivery records, Walter Breen notes the mintage for the BD-1 type was either 25,336 pieces, if the three deliveries before June 30 were all Large Date specimens, or 41,516 coins, if the deliveries up to September 22 were all Large Date pieces. Of course, there is no guarantee that all deliveries were exclusively one type or the other. At least one delivery may have included coins of both varieties, so this is really speculation. Both types are very rare today and our latest roster (see below) traces only seven BD-1 examples extant. One proof specimen is known and another one-sided proof is included in the collection of the Harry Bass Foundation. Of the other five coins, two are impounded in institutional collections, leaving only three regular-issue coins available to collectors.
The coin offered here exhibits well-worn orange-gold surfaces that retain traces of original mint luster. A few hints of red and amber patina are evident in selected areas. The coin is well-centered, but shows evidence of being bent and straightened at one time. This piece was used in jewelry, with signs of both mount and solder removal on the reverse. Despite the noted damage, this coin remains a prize for the series specialist, an example of one of the rarest coins in the U.S. federal series.
Roster of 1829 Large Date Half Eagles
1. PR64 PCGS. Owned by Joseph J. Mickley by 1867 and probably before 1858, when he mentioned the 1829 half eagles in his monograph, Dates of United States Coins and Their Degrees of Rarity; W. Elliot Woodward; William Sumner Appleton; W. Elliot Woodward (privately, 1/1883); T. Harrison Garrett; Robert Garrett; John Work Garrett; The Johns Hopkins University (Bowers and Ruddy, 11/1979), lot 471; Stack's (10/1988), lot 82; 1989 ANA (Bowers and Merena, 8/1989), lot 548; Michael I. Keston Collection (Superior, 1/1996), lot 120; Harvey Jacobson; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2012), lot 4681, realized $1,380,000.
2. PR65/MS65, One-Sided Proof. David S. Wilson (S.H. Chapman, 3/1907), lot 79; Virgil M. Brand; Armin Brand; Frieda Brand; Jane Brand Allen; Virgil M. Brand Collection (Bowers and Merena, 11/1983), lot 280; Auction '85 (Superior, 7/1985), lot 941; Harry W. Bass, Jr; Bass Core Collection. Probably ex: Col. Mendes I. Cohen Collection (Edward Cogan, 10/1875), lot 149; John W. Haseltine; J. Colvin Randall Collection (W.E. Woodward, 6/1885), lot 934. Several researchers have suggested that the Cohen specimen went to Lorin G. Parmelee, but that now appears doubtful.
3. MS66+ PCGS. Possibly Rev. Foster Ely (Scott Stamp & Coin Co., 11/1888), lot 42; James V. Dexter;
Harlan Page Smith Collection (Chapman Brothers, 5/1906), lot 218; John H. Clapp; Clapp Estate (1942); Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; Eliasberg Estate (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 387; Marvin Browder; RARCOA; D. Brent Pogue Collection (Stack's Bowers/Sotheby's, 5/2016), lot 4036, realized $763,750.
4. MS66 ICG. Lorin G. Parmelee Collection (New York Coin & Stamp Co., 6/1890), lot 988; Byron Reed Collection; Omaha City Library/Western Heritage Museum. Probably ex: W.E. Woodward (Sixth Semi-Annual Sale, 3/1865), lot 2780; William Strobridge; then possibly to George Seavey, who exhibited an 1829 half eagle at the Boston Numismatic Society on February 4, 1869; Seavey Descriptive Catalog (William Strobridge, 6/1873), lot 490; Lorin G. Parmelee, who bought the entire Seavey Collection en masse before the sale; Parmelee Collection (Strobridge, 6/1873), lot 789, withdrawn. Heritage numismatist David Stone believes that this coin, offered as a duplicate from the Parmelee Collection, was withdrawn from the sale when Parmelee realized that it was a Large Date, and therefore not a duplicate.
5. MS65 PCGS. William Woodin; Waldo Newcomer; "Col." E.H.R. Green; King Farouk (Sotheby's, 2/1954), part of lot 244; Dr. Clifford Smith (Stack's, 5/1955), lot 1691; 1976 ANA (Stack's, 2/1976), lot 2945; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 820.
6. MS63. Peter Mougey Collection (Thomas Elder, 9/1910), lot 1075; S.H. Chapman; Col. James W. Ellsworth; Wayte Raymond; William Cutler Atwater Collection (B. Max Mehl, 6/1946), lot 1646; Josiah K. Lilly, Jr. Collection; Smithsonian Institution. The early provenance to Atwater is tentative but convincing.
7. Fine Details NGC. Possibly discovered in Europe (per Kagin's) or, alternatively, an unidentified old lady, per Walter Breen; Coen and Messer (New York); William Fox Steinberg; Edwin Shapiro; 1964 ANA (Federal Brand Enterprises, 8/1964), lot 2863; Greater Houston Sale (Bebee, 1/1966), lot 552; Grand Central Sale (Paramount, 11/1966); MANA Convention Auction (Kagin's 11/1974), lot 1617; 1986 FUN Sale (Mid-American, 1/1986), lot 2029; 1997 ANA Signature (Heritage, 7/1997), lot 5203. The damaged reverse of this coin was altered again between its appearance in the 1986 FUN Sale and the 1997 ANA Signature. The present coin.
Other Appearances
A. McCoy Collection (W. Elliot Woodward, 5/1864), lot 1958; J.O. Emery; Heman Ely (W. Elliot Woodward, 1/1884), lot 841.
B. Fifth Semi-Annual Sale (W. Elliot Woodward, 10/1864), lot 1652; J.O. Emery; Emery, Taylor & Loomis Collections (W. Elliot Woodward, 3/1880), lot 1012.
C. William J. Jenks Collection (Edward Cogan, 4/1877), lot 346.
D. Phineas Adams; William J. Jenks; Sixty-Ninth Sale (John W. Haseltine, 6/1883), lot 363; Harold P. Newlin. This coin was offered to T. Harrison Garrett in October 1883, but he already owned an example, so he returned this piece to Newlin.
E. W. Elliot Woodward Collection (Woodward, 10/1884), lot 1157.
From The Hutchinson Collection, Part II.
HID02901242017