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

Lot Number: 1021

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/1389*1021

1802/1 $5 BD-3, R.7, AU58+ PCGS. CAC. HBJ-221. The current example is certified AU58+ PCGS with a CAC endorsement. The strike is superior to the Taichert example, especially on the wings and peripheral legends. Orange-gold, reflective surfaces reveal ripples of yellow-gold mint luster, while barely a hint of wear is limited to Liberty's forehead, chin, and drapery. A pinscratch between the ear and star 12 is visible beneath a loupe, and light abrasions are widely distributed in accordance with the borderline Uncirculated grade. Eye appeal is impressive. This lot represents a major opportunity for the astute early gold specialist.
Variety Equivalents: Adams unlisted, Breen (new varieties) 1-J, Miller-48, Bass-3074.
Obverse Die: This overdated obverse die was used for BD-1, BD-2, BD-3, BD-4, and BD-5.
Reverse Die: This is the only use of the reverse die.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State c/b: A small obverse rim break joins two dentils over star 7. The small "blimp-like" die flaw over reverse star 10 is apparently always present on this variety.
PCGS Population Data (10/25): For all 1802/1 half eagle varieties, PCGS has certified 62 in AU58, four in AU58+, and 118 finer Mint State coins. However, this example is the only numerically graded 1802/1 BD-3 half eagle that PCGS has attributed (the Harry W. Bass, Jr. coin received a "details" grade).
CAC Census (10/25): For all varieties, CAC has approved 25 examples of the 1802/1 half eagle in AU58, and they have certified one submission at that grade level. However, the data does not recognize coins graded AU58+. Finer submissions include 26 Mint State coins.
Significant Examples: This example is the second finest of eight examples known to us and it is the finest numerically graded 1802/1 BD-3 half eagle.
Breen Commentary (New Varieties): Breen reported: "Discovered by Marvin Taichert; no duplicate reported. Probably should come between 1-C and 1-D, but this is guesswork." His varieties 1-C and 1-D are known today as BD-1 and BD-2, respectively.
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): "The year is filled with rare varieties, and, as noted under BD-1 [in the Bass-Dannreuther reference], the next two varieties are missing from the Bass collection. The excessive rarity of these issues can only be attributed to quickly discarded reverse dies, as only the two overdate obverses produced the eight varieties of the year."
Heritage Commentary: The 1802/1 varieties normally encountered are BD-1 and BD-2 from the first overdate obverse, and BD-7 and BD-8 from the second overdate obverse. The other four varieties are all currently rated R.7 per the Bass-Dannreuther reference, and those are the four varieties offered in the present sale of the Harvey Jacobson half eagle collection.
Doug Winter Commentary: This is an old friend as I sold it to Paul McCoy around 2015-16. At the time I asked for a $1,000 premium for it being a strong R-7 variety and actually felt kind of guilty for taking the money.
Provenance: Central States Signature event (Heritage, 4/2008), lot 2429; McCoy Family Collection/FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2018), lot 5019.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.

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