PO Box 619999
Dallas, TX 75261-6199
Street Address:
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, Texas 75261-4127
(Northwest corner of W. Airport Freeway [HWY-183] & Valley View Lane)
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800-USCOINS (872-6467)(214) 528-3500
Fax: (214) 409-1425
Auction Name: 2025 October 2 - 5 GACC US Coins Signature® Auction
Lot Number: 3115
Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/1386*3115
1795 $5 Large Eagle, BD-14, High R.6, MS62 PCGS. Bass-Dannreuther Die State c/c, with the obverse lapped and the reverse cracked through RIC to the border over the final A. The 1795 Heraldic Eagle half eagles are interesting to contemplate as certain aspects of this coinage are uncertain. Three varieties are known, each using a different obverse die that was combined earlier with a Small Eagle reverse. BD-13 is unique and uses the same obverse as the BD-8, 9, and 10 Small Eagle varieties. BD-14 offered here uses the same obverse as the BD-7 Small Eagle die marriage. BD-15 uses the same obverse as BD-11 of the Small Eagle coinage.
The Heraldic Eagle reverse dies include that offered here, also appearing on BD-13. The other reverse die used for BD-15 was also used for 1797 BD-5, a unique variety from the Lilly Collection that is held in the Smithsonian Institution. The reverse of that 1797 coin is an earlier state than the 1795 BD-15 coins, proving that the 1795 coins were struck after those of 1797. For that reason, most observers believe that all the 1795 Heraldic Eagle half eagles were struck in 1797 or possibly 1798.
Our census records include just 17 Mint State examples of the 1795 Heraldic Eagle half eagles. The present example that has been off the market for nearly two decades is tied for the seventh finest of all three die marriages and fifth finest of the BD-14 coins.
Light adjustment marks are noted across Liberty's upper hair on this example that also hosts minor marks in the left obverse field. The Stack's cataloger in 2008 described those as lint marks and we agree with that assessment. Both sides have hints of rose toning on the brilliant and lustrous yellow surfaces that exhibit slight reflectivity. Population for all three varieties: 8 in 62 (2 in 62+), 4 finer (8/25).
Ex: Gainsborough II Sale (Superior, 2/1997), lot 2911; Bergstrom and Husky Collections (Stack's, 6/2008), lot 2054.
From The Hawkeye Collection.
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