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

Lot Number: 1011

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/1389*1011

1798 $5 Large Eagle, Large 8, 14 Stars Reverse, BD-3, R.5, AU55 PCGS. HBJ-211. Pale orange toning appears on the obverse high points of this Choice AU half eagle that exhibits light yellow-gold luster with wispy green overtones.
Variety Equivalents: Adams-3, Breen 2-C, Miller-26, Bass-3054.
Obverse Die: The obverse die is used here and for BD-4.
Reverse Die: This is the only use of the 14 Stars reverse.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/c: The obverse is perfect although slight signs of lapping appear in the back hair curls. The reverse has a curved crack through the final A and stem to the shield, curving up to the scroll, right-most star, clouds, and the F in OF.
PCGS Population Data (10/25): PCGS has examined 16 submissions of 1798 14 stars half eagles in all grades including six AU55 examples and three finer pieces (AU58 - 2, MS60).
Significant Examples: This example is tied for fifth finest of those known to us. The best examples we have recorded include two graded MS60, two graded AU58, and six examples certified as AU55.
Breen (1966): Breen described this variety as "a type coin, in demand for the blundered die." In his New Varieties update, Breen noted that Mrs. Norweb had an example combining his obverse 2 and reverse F. The October 1987 Norweb sale included three 1798 half eagles attributed today as BD-3, BD-4, and BD-7, the latter coin offered below.
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): "This variety is scarce ... and in most series would be considered rare, with only about three dozen examples surviving."
Heritage Commentary: The distinctive 14 Stars reverse die makes its only appearance in the BD-3 combination. While not considered a rarity when compared to many other early gold varieties, the census is quite low with just two or three Mint State examples known. This is the 30th auction appearance of the variety in our sales since 1993.
Doug Winter Commentary: With no less than eight die varieties known (including three distinct Redbook varieties), this is a confusing but fascinating year for half eagles.
Provenance: Recorded below.

Roster of Significant Examples
1. MS60 PCGS. Spink & Sons, Ltd., sold privately 8/25/1966; Norweb Collection, Part I (Bowers and Merena, 10/1987), lot 742, $10,450; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection (Heritage, 9/2022), lot 11031.
2. MS60 NGC. Pre-Long Beach (Goldberg Auctions, 2/2007), lot 2240, $115,000.
3. AU58 NGC. Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2015), lot 5307, $32,900.
4. AU58. Logan & Steinberg Collections (Bowers and Merena, 11/2002), lot 3209, $13,800; Entlich, White Oak, Gross & St. Andre Collections (Stack's, 3/2009), lot 5852, $35,075.
5. AU55 PCGS. Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr., purchased privately on March 14, 2003. The present specimen.
6. AU55 PCGS. Burnheimer Collection (Paramount, 5/1976), lot 1071; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part II (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 724, $25,300; Dr. James A. Ferrendelli Collection (Stack's Bowers, 8/2014), lot 11064, $32,900; D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part II (Stack's Bowers / Sotheby's, 9/2015), lot 2078, $44,063.
7. AU55 PCGS. ANA Sale (Superior, 8/1975), lot 1498; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part III (Bowers and Merena, 5/2000), lot 290, $20,700.
8. AU55 NGC. Americana Sale (Stack's Bowers 2/2014), lot 2144, $28,200; Winter Sale (Stack's Bowers, 10/2014), lot 10207, $25,850.
9. AU55 NGC. Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part II (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 725, $16,100; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2009), lot 4041, $25,300.
10. AU55 NGC. Glode M. Requa Collection (American Numismatic Rarities 9/2006, lot 846, $25,875.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.

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