1795 $5 Small Eagle, BD-1, R.5, MS62 PCGS....

Description

1795 Half Eagle, Small Eagle, MS62
Attractive First Year Issue, BD-1

1795 $5 Small Eagle, BD-1, R.5, MS62 PCGS. Bass-Dannreuther Die State b/a. The BD-1 die marriage is attributed by the flag of the 5 being mostly within the drapery, and on the reverse leaves are merged into U(NITED). There were also rust pits on the working dies, causing small raised lumps on the lower obverse, and scattered small peripheral rust lumps on the reverse, including evidence of die rust adjacent to F. Harry Bass determined this was the first variety struck of the 12 die pairings used for 1795 Small Eagles. John Dannreuther, along with other numismatists, believe the rust on the dies was most likely the result of delay in striking due to the high bond requirement in order to commence minting of this first issue of United States Mint gold coins. Delivery Warrant 1 was for 744 half eagles on July 31, 1795, all of which were likely BD-1, as Dannreuther estimates a mintage of 750-1,500 BD-1 coins were struck out of a total mintage of at least 8,707 coins dated 1795. There were possibly as many as 12,106 half eagles struck that were dated 1795, as Dannreuther states "the mintage figures reported for the year 1796 undoubtedly contained coins dated 1795."

The Draped Bust, Small Eagle five dollar gold coin is an iconic and beloved design, beautifully crafted by Chief Engraver Robert Scot. The Draped Bust half eagles were the first United States Mint coins adorned with an elegant drapery. Scot had long experience with neoclassical draperies, modeling classical figures in plaster at his engraving shop on Niddry Wynd in Edinburgh during 1765, along with illustrating classical draperies in copperplate for Thomas Dobson's Encyclopedia in 1793. Chief Coiner Henry Voigt presided over the coining operations, with Adam Eckfeldt providing his considerable skills as "Die Forger and Turner."

This is a charming example of the first United States Mint gold coins, struck from the very first set of dies used on the 1795 half eagles. Attractive yellow-gold toning transitions to a deeper antique gold in recessed areas, creating wonderful eye appeal. Beautiful satiny luster covers the surfaces. The intermediate die state yields a solid strike, with hair curls, drapery, and stars all defined, along with clear detail on the eagle's feathers. Effects of the die rust add interest to the coin. Scattered handling and contact marks are small, and the overall appearance is excellent. Housed in a Generation 3.1 green label PCGS holder.
Ex: ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/2006), lot 5471.
From The Costa Family Collection, Part I.

Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 519849, Base PCGS# 8066, Greysheet# 198163)

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 all of [The Costa Family Collection, Part I ]

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