1812 $5 Narrow 5D, BD-2, High R.4, MS64 PCGS....

Description

1812 Half Eagle, BD-2, Frosty MS64
Scarce Narrow 5D Variety
Bold Strike Detail

1812 $5 Narrow 5D, BD-2, High R.4, MS64 PCGS. Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection. Bass-Dannreuther Die State c/b. The 58,087 half eagles struck in 1812 were produced using two die pairs that shared a common obverse. They are distinguished by the space of 5 and D in the denomination. BD-1 features a Wide 5D, while BD-2 has a Close 5D, as here. According to John Dannreuther (2006), as many as 45,000 to 60,000 coins struck in 1812 were of the BD-1 variety with the Wide 5D reverse. About 300 to 450 of those survive. By contrast, only 10,000 to 15,000 of the BD-2, Close 5D type were struck, and merely 80 to 100 examples exist today. Dannreuther writes: "This scarce variety is underappreciated, as the date is quite available and little attention has been paid to this combination."

The total number of problem-free 1812 half eagles at PCGS amounts to 282 submissions (without distinguishing between varieties). A surprising number of them are in Mint State, explaining the issue's status a more collectible date (although to underscore this particular variety's scarcity, Harry Bass was only able to acquire a single BD-2 example for his collection). Still, just six representatives are numerically finer, with the best coin at PCGS being a single MS65+ (11/22).

The surfaces of this near-Gem are light yellow-gold and thickly frosted. The stars, portrait, eagle, and legends exhibit razor-sharp design definition. The reverse fields are virtually abrasion-free, while the obverse shows a few superficial grazes.
Ex: Public Auction Sale (Lester Merkin, 3/1969), lot 191.
From The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part II.

Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 507602, Base PCGS# 8112)

Weight: 8.75 grams

Metal: 91.67% Gold, 8.33% Copper

Note for clients in the European Union: This lot is considered by the European Union to be “investment gold”. We believe that it meets the criteria established in Article 344(1), point (2) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC and thus should be exempt from import VAT regardless of the selling price. Any questions or concerns about VAT should be addressed to your accountant or local tax authority.

View Certification Details from PCGS