1795 $5 Small Eagle, BD-3, High R.3, AU55 PCGS....

Description

1795 BD-3 Small Eagle Five Dollar, AU55
Popular First-Year Design Type

1795 $5 Small Eagle, BD-3, High R.3, AU55 PCGS. The Bass-Dannreuther Early U.S. Gold Coin Varieties: A Study of Die States, 1795-1834 lists 12 varieties for the 1795 Small Eagle five dollar, plus a 1796/5 overdate. Varieties BD-2, BD-3, and BD-4 show overlapping obverse stars 11 and 12, and star 11 over the Y of LIBERTY. The reverse wreath of BD-4 has three berries, while BD-2 and BD-3 each have four berries. The present coin, an example of the BD-3, is distinguished from BD-2 by the palm leaf that extends past N in UNITED, a higher inside right berry on the wreath, and by the tips of the wreath that are roughly centered between the S of STATES and the O of OF.

The Mint produced half eagles from 1795 through 1929, although not during every year of that period. An interesting sidenote: With the production of five dollar commemorative and bullion coins at West Point in the late 20th century the half eagle is the only U.S. denomination made at each of the eight mints. Only 8,707 1795 half eagles were minted, with 175-225 examples of this variety known today. As Dannreuther notes, "Although this is the common variety of 1795 Small Eagle coinage, one must realize common is a very relative term. Even if there are 200 extant for this pairing, it is still a rare coin."

The obverse of the present example displays a sharp strike, but there is softness in the central part of the eagle from the head to the right (facing) leg. A bit of detritus clings to a few letters on both sides, and there is a tiny dig below the eagle on the reverse; neither is bothersome. Both sides display red-gold toning, slightly darker on the obverse, with a contrasting yellow-gold halo surrounding the stars and letters. This pleasing example of the first-year half eagle issue is an ideal coin for the type or early gold collector.
Ex: FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2007), lot 3489; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 9/2008), lot 3573.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25ND, Variety PCGS# 519852, Base PCGS# 8066, Greysheet# 198165)

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.

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