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

Lot Number: 1035

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/1389*1035

1806 $5 Pointed 6, 8x5 Stars, BD-5, High R.6, AU53 PCGS. HBJ-235. Pleasing green-gold surfaces host minuscule marks of no consequence on this important piece that has central design weakness.
Variety Equivalents: Adams-4, Breen 3-C, 4-E, Miller-83, Bass-3100.
Obverse Die: This is the only use of the obverse die.
Reverse Die: The reverse continued in production for 1806 BD-6, the Knobbed 6 variety.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/a: Struck from perfect dies, apparently as always.
PCGS Population Data (10/25): The five Pointed 6 varieties include eight that PCGS grades AU53 and 73 finer examples.
Significant Examples: We have specific records of eight different examples of BD-5, and five older auction listings that we believe are different from the eight members of our roster. This example is listed as fifth best.
Breen (1966): Breen correctly noted that the 1 is free from the curl on this die and that the reverse reappeared on the plentiful Knobbed 6 variety. This example nicely illustrates Breen comment: "Half eagles of Type I [1806 Pointed 6] invariably come with weak centers. It is conjectured that the senile coining press used to make them was the same one which is recorded to have broken down in this year."
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): Six auction appearances between 1990 and 2005 were noted for this variety that has a surviving population of 10 to 12 examples, per John Dannreuther, who notes that the reverse die was reused for the 1806 BD-6 Knobbed 6 coins: "There is no doubt that the Pointed 6 dies were the first produced, as the numeral and letter punches were replaced to create the Knobbed 6 variety that follows (BD-6). Since this reverse is found on BD-6 in a later state, we know that this issue was struck before the Knobbed 6 coins."
Heritage Commentary: Following considerable confusion regarding the 1806 half eagle varieties, John W. Dannreuther, working with notes from Harry W. Bass, Jr., has determined that six varieties are known. The Round Top 6, sometimes called the Knobbed 6, is attributed as BD-6. The other five varieties, all with a Pointed 6 date style, are easily attributed.

BD-1 and BD-2 have the lower left star nearly touching an incomplete hair curl. On the reverse, BD-1 had a long branch stem that ends close to the eagle's tailfeathers while BD-2 has a much shorter branch stem.

BD-3 has the lower left star touching a complete hair curl, and that is diagnostic for the variety.

BD-4 and BD-5 have the lower left star distant from the hair curl. The upper left serif of the 1 in the date touches the hair curl on BD-4 and is separated from the hair curl on BD-5. The longest arrowhead on the reverse of BD-4 extends fully under the I in UNITED, while several arrowheads on BD-5 end below the right side of the N.
Provenance: Purchased privately on November 7, 2013.

Roster of 1806 BD-5 Half Eagles:
1. MS63 PCGS. Purchased from A-Mark Coin Company (3/16/1978); Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection (Heritage, 5/2023), lot 4549, $32,400.
2. MS61 PCGS. Heritage (10/2022), lot 3185, $17,400.
3. MS60 NGC. CAC. Stanley Kesselman, 4/1970; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part II (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 774; Bowers and Merena (3/2002), lot 217; C.L. Lee Collection (American Numismatic Rarities, 9/2005), lot 1239; American Independence Collection; Baltimore Auction (Stack's Bowers, 3/2019), lot 1147.
4. AU55 NGC. CAC. Long Island Collection; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 2/2022), lot 3192, $17,400.
5. AU53 PCGS. Stack's Bowers (5/2006), lot 2331. The present specimen.
6. XF45 PCGS. Pre-Long Beach Sale (Goldberg Auctions, 9/2006), lot 1923; ANA Auction (Stack's Bowers, 8/2018), lot 4092, unsold; Baltimore Auction (Stack's Bowers, 3/2019), lot 3040, unsold.
7. XF40 PCGS. Thomas Sebring Collection (American Numismatic Rarities, 1/2004), lot 453, $3,105; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2005), lot 8931, $3,450; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 9/2016), lot 5665, $6,756.
8. AU Repaired NCS. Donald E. Bently Collection; Bently Foundation (Heritage, 1/2014), lot 6597, $5,581.

Additional examples, apparently different from those listed above:
9. AU. Coin Galleries (10/1957), lot 370; Sotheby's (7/1981), lot 200; Auction '83 (RARCOA, 7/1983), lot 1412.
10. EF40. Albert O. Woods Sale (Superior, 9/1986), lot 3750.
11. EF40. New York Collection (Herbert I. Melnick, 7/1983), lot 168.
12. EF40. William H. Bacon Estate (NASCA, 10/1979), lot 1625.
13. VF. Gilhousen Collection (Superior, 2/1973), lot 341.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.

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