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CSNS Signature US Coin Sale 1254 26-28 Apr 2017
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Early Half Eagles
1830 $5 Large 5D, BD-1, R.6, MS63 PCGS. CAC. Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/b. A deceptively large mintage of 126,351 Capped Head Left half eagles was accomplished in 1830, with just two die varieties known for the date. All the coins were of the new, reduced diameter type, struck with a close collar, first introduced on the denomination in 1829. This coin represents the BD-1 variety, easily recognized by the Large D in the denomination. This letter punch may be from the set used on the old large diameter half eagles before 1829, as it is much larger than the D in UNITED, or any other letter on the reverse. The BD-1 is the rarest variety of the date (by a slight margin), with a surviving population of 25-35 examples in all grades. John Dannreuther estimates the BD-1 accounted for 50,000-75,000 pieces of the reported mintage, but the survival rate was extremely low. The obverse die was used again to strike the BD-2 variety of this date, while the reverse was used previously to produce the BD-2 variety of 1829.
When we cataloged this identical coin in January of 2000, we noted " all extant Large 5D representatives display repunching on the 0 in the date." Since that time, John Dannreuther has determined that all 1830 half eagles are actually overdates, struck from a leftover, unused die of 1829. In a December 29, 2006-dated email, JD 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 to both the left of the 0, 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!"
Unfortunately, this discovery was made after the publication of Early U.S. Gold Coin Varieties, so the information is not included in the standard series reference.
This coin's MS 63 grade designation hardly does justice to its eye appeal. Both sides exhibit nicely frosted devices and deeply reflective fields that combine to impart a gorgeous prooflike finish. The striking qualities are impeccable and every last design element exhibits razor-sharp definition. The vivid yellow-gold surfaces radiate powerfully through the holder uninhibited by noteworthy surface disruptions. A probable Condition Census example for the die variety, PCGS lists a single BD-1 finer at MS66, while NGC reports one coin in this grade, and a single specimen finer (1/17).
Ex: FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2000), lot 7524.
From The Hutchinson Collection, Part II.
HID02901242017
1830 $5 Large 5D, BD-1, R.6, MS63 PCGS. CAC. Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/b. A deceptively large mintage of 126,351 Capped Head Left half eagles was accomplished in 1830, with just two die varieties known for the date. All the coins were of the new, reduced diameter type, struck with a close collar, first introduced on the denomination in 1829. This coin represents the BD-1 variety, easily recognized by the Large D in the denomination. This letter punch may be from the set used on the old large diameter half eagles before 1829, as it is much larger than the D in UNITED, or any other letter on the reverse. The BD-1 is the rarest variety of the date (by a slight margin), with a surviving population of 25-35 examples in all grades. John Dannreuther estimates the BD-1 accounted for 50,000-75,000 pieces of the reported mintage, but the survival rate was extremely low. The obverse die was used again to strike the BD-2 variety of this date, while the reverse was used previously to produce the BD-2 variety of 1829.
When we cataloged this identical coin in January of 2000, we noted " all extant Large 5D representatives display repunching on the 0 in the date." Since that time, John Dannreuther has determined that all 1830 half eagles are actually overdates, struck from a leftover, unused die of 1829. In a December 29, 2006-dated email, JD 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 to both the left of the 0, 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!"
Unfortunately, this discovery was made after the publication of Early U.S. Gold Coin Varieties, so the information is not included in the standard series reference.
This coin's MS 63 grade designation hardly does justice to its eye appeal. Both sides exhibit nicely frosted devices and deeply reflective fields that combine to impart a gorgeous prooflike finish. The striking qualities are impeccable and every last design element exhibits razor-sharp definition. The vivid yellow-gold surfaces radiate powerfully through the holder uninhibited by noteworthy surface disruptions. A probable Condition Census example for the die variety, PCGS lists a single BD-1 finer at MS66, while NGC reports one coin in this grade, and a single specimen finer (1/17).
Ex: FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2000), lot 7524.
From The Hutchinson Collection, Part II.
HID02901242017