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

Lot Number: 1039

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/1389*1039

1808/7 $5 Wide Date, BD-1, R.6, MS62 NGC. HBJ-239. Sharp design definition is evident on both sides of this fully lustrous wheat-gold example that features a well-centered strike and excellent eye appeal.
Variety Equivalents: Adams-1, 2, Breen 1-A, Miller-103, Bass-3111.
Obverse Die: This is the only appearance of the obverse.
Reverse Die: This reverse remained in service for four die combinations: 1807 BD-8, 1808 BD-1, 1808 BD-2, and 1808 BD-3.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State c/c: The obverse die has heavy cracks including a radial crack from the upper border to the cap and bust, reaching the right side of the first 8 in the date and the lower border. The lapped reverse die shows slight die clashing in the shield.
NGC Census Data (10/25): NGC has identified 63 submissions of 1808/7 overdate half eagles in all grades. Those submissions include five in MS62 and just one finer example.
Significant Examples: This example is tied for the fourth finest of eight Mint State examples listed in our roster that follows.
Breen (1966): Breen described two overdate varieties from different obverse dies in his 1966 monograph. He rated his 1-A die combination as R.6, as we do today and suggested that the obverse die break accounts for its rarity. The other more plentiful variety, Breen 2-A, is cataloged today as BD-2.
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): "This combination is difficult to locate because the obverse quickly shattered and was retired. This and the following variety were overdated from two 1807-dated dies. Both are similar - this one has a very short 1 almost centered over a dentil. Traces of the previous 7 are seen at the upper and lower left of the 8."
Heritage Commentary: The four 1808 half eagle varieties include two overdates and two normal dates. Many past offerings of 1808 half eagles, if they were attributed at all, were frequently mis-attributed. For that reason, the actual rarity of the different varieties is difficult to ascertain. We agree with Dannreuther who writes: "There has been little differentiation in catalogs between the two overdated obverses for 1808, so determining how many of each were produced is a guess - like nearly every other early gold coin. In determining varieties from auction photographs, the author found numerous examples of 1808/7 coins listed as normal date issues."
Doug Winter Commentary: I'm a sucker for this variety and -- actually -- for all nice 1808/7 half eagles. This date is many times scarcer than a common 1811 or 1812 yet it commands just a small premium. Supposedly, this variety is an R-6 but I'm thinking that I see one of these for every ten 1808/7 BD-2's.
Provenance: Recorded below.

A Roster of Significant Examples
1. MS64 PCGS. James A. Stack, Sr. Collection (Stack's, 10/1994), lot 1052, $24,200; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection (Heritage, 8/2023), lot 9046.
2. MS63 PCGS. Auction '90 (RARCOA, 8/1990), lot 935, $4,400.
3. MS63 Uncertified (grade per Jeff Garrett). Josiah K. Lilly Collection, donated intact by Lilly's estate in 1968 to the National Numismatic Collection in exchange for a $5.5 million tax credit; National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution (ID #NU.68.159.0172).
4. MS62 PCGS. Pre-Long Beach (Goldberg Auctions, 2/2007), lot 2257, $23,000; Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection (Heritage, 1/2012), lot 4664, $25,300; Baltimore Rarities Night (Stack's Bowers, 11/2021), lot 4114, $21,600.
5. MS62 NGC. Dr. James A. Ferrendelli Collection (Stack's Bowers, 8/2014), lot 11086, $24,675. The present specimen.
6. MS61 PCGS. Treasures from the S.S. New York (Stack's, 7/2009), lot 1389, $15,000.
7. MS61 NGC. Hutchinson Collection, Part II (Heritage, 4/2017), lot 4241, $17,625.
8. MS61 NGC. Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 9/2020), lot 3718, $13,800.
9. AU58 PCGS. ANA 75th Annual Convention Sale (Abe Kosoff and Numismatic Enterprises, 8/1966), lot 1980; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 3111); Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part II (Heritage, 1/2023), lot 9035, $19,200.
10. AU58 PCGS. Chicago ANA (Stack's Bowers, 8/2013), lot 4478, $18,800.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.

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