Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature US Coin Sale 1258 2-6 Aug 2017
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Early Half Eagles
1830 $5 Large 5D, BD-1, R.6, AU58 NGC. The 1830 is a rare date regardless of grade or variety, and demand is likely to increase in the future as more advanced specialists seek to obtain both a Small and Large 5D example. The Large 5D is considered slightly rarer than the Small 5D, although either variety is a find compared with the more available 1813, 1818, and 1820 dates of the immensely challenging Capped Head Left series.
Although the Guide Book states that the 1830 has a mintage of 126,351 pieces, this figure is misleadingly high, since more than 99% of the production was melted. Gold coins of the pre-1834 higher weight rarely circulated in the United States. These pieces were valued above face, even as they were being struck, and speculators promptly removed any that appeared in circulation. They were coined for export payments, and were valued by their bullion weight instead of their denomination. Once overseas, the unfamiliar pieces were melted, and recoined into local gold currency. This practice devastated the number of remaining 1830 half eagles, although enough survived to prevent the date from becoming prohibitively rare, unlike the 1822 which has just three known survivors.
The present example is evenly struck, and shows only a hint of wear on Liberty's cheek and jaw. Pockets of luster brighten the legends and individual stars, and fill the crevices of the Liberty's hair and the eagle's plumage. The fields display subtle orange patina, which helps conceal a series of thin marks on the field near the eagle's head. The obverse is refreshingly unabraded, and the overall eye appeal is attractive for the Borderline Uncirculated level.
Ex: Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 2/2007), lot 4508, where it realized $54,625.
HID02901242017
1830 $5 Large 5D, BD-1, R.6, AU58 NGC. The 1830 is a rare date regardless of grade or variety, and demand is likely to increase in the future as more advanced specialists seek to obtain both a Small and Large 5D example. The Large 5D is considered slightly rarer than the Small 5D, although either variety is a find compared with the more available 1813, 1818, and 1820 dates of the immensely challenging Capped Head Left series.
Although the Guide Book states that the 1830 has a mintage of 126,351 pieces, this figure is misleadingly high, since more than 99% of the production was melted. Gold coins of the pre-1834 higher weight rarely circulated in the United States. These pieces were valued above face, even as they were being struck, and speculators promptly removed any that appeared in circulation. They were coined for export payments, and were valued by their bullion weight instead of their denomination. Once overseas, the unfamiliar pieces were melted, and recoined into local gold currency. This practice devastated the number of remaining 1830 half eagles, although enough survived to prevent the date from becoming prohibitively rare, unlike the 1822 which has just three known survivors.
The present example is evenly struck, and shows only a hint of wear on Liberty's cheek and jaw. Pockets of luster brighten the legends and individual stars, and fill the crevices of the Liberty's hair and the eagle's plumage. The fields display subtle orange patina, which helps conceal a series of thin marks on the field near the eagle's head. The obverse is refreshingly unabraded, and the overall eye appeal is attractive for the Borderline Uncirculated level.
Ex: Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 2/2007), lot 4508, where it realized $54,625.
HID02901242017