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

Lot Number: 1019

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/1389*1019

1800 $5 Blunt 1, BD-3, High R.6, AU58 NGC. HBJ-219. Rich peripheral rose toning appears on both sides of this honey-gold half eagle that exhibits the usual grade-associated handling marks.
Variety Equivalents: Adams-4, Breen 1-A, Miller-41, Bass-3069.
Obverse Die: The obverse die was used for 1800 BD-2, BD-3, BD-4, and BD-5.
Reverse Die: The reverse die is unique to this variety.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State c/a: The obverse is cracked through the top of the I to the base of BER. Faint clash marks are noted below the bust and right of the neck. The reverse is perfect with no deterioration.
NGC Census Data (10/25): Including all varieties, some attributed and others unattributed, NGC has reviewed 75 1800 half eagles graded AU58, two in AU58+, and 111 numerically finer Mint State examples.
Significant Examples: This example will likely rank high in the roster of 1800 BD-3 half eagles that are being researched.
Breen (1966): In his monograph, Walter Breen mentioned a worn example that Adams illustrated: "Evidently the Newcomer-Green specimen discovered in the stock of Guttag Bros." He also mentioned lot 285 in the Gaylord sale that "appears to be a mint state example of the same variety." He had not seen any other examples of this rare variety.
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): Dannreuther reports just 10 auction appearances between the years of 1990 and 2005. He also reports two examples in the Smithsonian Institution and one in the ANS collection: "The fact that museums hold at least three examples of this variety seems to indicate a more readily available coin, but its lack of auction appearances is validation of its rarity."
Heritage Commentary: As with many early gold varieties, the rarity of this variety is debatable. Our High R.6 rating suggests 13 to 18 examples survive in all grades, while other researchers suggest that as many as 25 may still exist. When describing this example, the cataloger for American Numismatic Rarities in 2003 wrote: "The Bass Sylloge estimates that fewer than a half a dozen are known." However, we find no such statement in that reference work that cataloged this as R.6.
Doug Winter Commentary: Even if you could care less about die varieties of 1800 half eagles (side note; not the ideal topic to discuss on your first date), take a look at this coin as it is uncommonly choice for an 1800 BD-3.
Provenance: American Numismatic Rarities (12/2003), lot 932.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.

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