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

Lot Number: 1028

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/1389*1028

1805 $5 BD-4, High R.7, AU55 NGC. CAC. HBJ-228. Brilliant, mirrored surfaces display satiny light yellow luster and vibrant coppery-orange toning on both sides.
Variety Equivalents: Adams unlisted, Breen uncertain, Miller unlisted, Bass-3090.
Obverse Die: This is the only appearance of the obverse die.
Reverse Die: The reverse die was used for four of the five 1805 die pairs, BD-2, BD-3, BD-4, and BD-5, remaining in use for 1806 BD-1.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State c/e: A delicate crack joins the bottoms of 805 to the field right of the date. A second crack stars from the first just right of the 5 to the drapery and across the neck to the ear. Dannreuther describes a continuation of the second crack to the B in LIBERTY and the border, although that is not evident in this example. The reverse is clashed with a rim break over the final S and right.
NGC Census Data (10/25): NGC has certified 22 1805 half eagles of all varieties in AU55 with 153 numerically finer.
CAC Census (10/25): CAC has 17 1805 half eagles of all varieties in AU55 with 57 finer submissions stickered. In addition, they have graded one piece in AU55 and one finer example.
Significant Examples: This example is the fourth finest of five known to us as recorded in our roster below.
Breen (1966): The closest match to this obverse die in the Breen monograph is his obverse 1 where he describes the die crack seen on most examples. While Breen cataloged five different reverse dies for the 1805 half eagle coinage, we are certain today that just two reverse dies exist. Breen's reverse dies A, B, and E are the same, and his dies C and D are the same.
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): While preparing his reference that incorporates the notes from Harry W. Bass, Jr., John Dannreuther surveyed auction appearances from 1990 to 2005. For 1805 BD-4, he found just three auction appearances and from there, estimated that just four to six examples of this variety survive.
Heritage Commentary: During cataloging for the Jacobson Collection, we reviewed extensive auction listings. We examined more than 350 auction appearances of 1805 half eagles and located just seven appearances of BD-4 and eight of BD-5.
Doug Winter Commentary: An interesting coin to compare with the very late die state example offered in this sale.
Provenance: Recorded below.

Roster of Significant Examples
1. MS63+ PCGS. Purchased from Paramount International Coin Corporation (12/3/1974); Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection (Heritage, 9/2022), lot 11040. Offered in the next lot.
2. MS61 PCGS. Kevin Lipton (3/16/1978); Harry W. Bass, Jr. (Bowers and Merena, 11/2000), lot 310; Heritage Internet (7/2001), lot 3663.
3. AU58 PCGS. Elmer S. Sears (1924); John H. Clapp; Clapp Estate (1942); Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; Eliasberg Estate (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 351; Harry W. Bass, Jr. (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 762. Offered in the lot after next.
4. AU55 NGC. CAC. Stack's Bowers (8/2021), lot 6048. The present specimen.
5. AU Uncertified. Herbert M. Oechsner Collection (Stack's, 9/1988), lot 323.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.

Include Thumbnail(s)