Auction Name: 2026 January 8 US Coins Signature Auction - FUN Special Sessions: Ellsworth & Jacobson

Lot Number: 1004

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/1389*1004

1795 $5 Small Eagle, BD-9, High R.5, XF40 PCGS. HBJ-204. Rich peripheral orange-copper toning resides on both sides of this pleasing honey-gold example that hosts scattered grade-consistent marks. Light wear is evident from its time in circulation. The strike is nicely centered on a well-made planchet with no evidence of adjustment marks. A vertical depression on the eagle's body appears to be a planchet flaw prior to striking.
Variety Equivalents: Adams-10, Mabbott-10, 12, Breen 6-E, Hilt 6-E, Miller-8, Bass-3039.
Obverse Die: This obverse is found on the BD-8, BD-9, BD-10 Small Eagle varieties, and the unique 1795 BD-13 Heraldic Eagle variety.
Reverse Die: The reverse die was first used for BD-7.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State b/c: A delicate reverse die crack from the edge to the N in UNITED continues through the leaves to the eagle's body just above the left (facing) leg. John W. Dannreuther observes that this is the normally encountered die state. Rare, uncracked examples are known.
PCGS Population Data (10/25): For all 12 Small Eagle varieties, PCGS has certified 379 submissions. Those grading events include 27 examples certified as XF40.
Significant Examples: The Bass Collection coin, graded MS62 PCGS, that we sold in 2023 is the only Mint State piece known to us. The roster that we published in the Bass offering listed three pieces graded AU58 and four others graded AU50 to AU55. While the present piece falls below the 10 finest examples, it is a significant representation of the BD-9 die pair.
Breen (1966): Walter Breen suggested that this is "probably the commonest variety of the year." He elaborated: "Virgil Brand at one time had over fifty choice 1795 half eagles, and in all likelihood close to half of them were 6-Es, to judge by the frequency with which EF to Unc. specimens of this variety - often labeled 'ex Brand; - appear in auctions."
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): Dannreuther estimates a mintage of 750 to 1,250 coins and writes: "This is one of the more available of the 12 Small Eagle varieties, although it is not quite as available as some have supposed. Perhaps 35 to 45 examples still exist of this combination, available only by 1795 standards."
Heritage Commentary: We have previously offered 25 examples of BD-9 in our auctions since 1993 when we began our Permanent Auction Archives. Those appearances represent a smaller number of actual coins.
Doug Winter Commentary: A nice collector grade example which-while somewhat scarce-should not bring much of a variety premium.
Provenance: Stack's Bowers (11/2012), lot 3257.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.

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