LOT #1015 |
Current Bid: $4,900
1799 $5 Small Reverse Stars, BD-4, R.7, AU55 PCGS....
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Description
1799 BD-4 Half Eagle, AU55
Perfect Dies
The Third Finest of Seven Known
1799 $5 Small Reverse Stars, BD-4, R.7, AU55 PCGS.
HBJ-215. Light hairlines and trivial handling marks are
noted on this reflective yellow-gold example that exhibits delicate
rose overtones.Variety Equivalents: Adams-8, Breen 3-D, Miller-35, Bass-3063.
Obverse Die: This is the first use of the obverse that was reused for BD-5 and BD-6.
Reverse Die: This die combination is the only use of the reverse die.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/a: Both dies are perfect with no evidence of die cracks, clash marks, or other signs of diminished die life.
PCGS Population Data (10/25): The seven 1799 Small Reverse Stars varieties include 18 that PCGS grades AU55 and 43 finer pieces.
Significant Examples: The Jacobson Collection coin is tied for the third finest of just seven examples known to us.
Breen (1966): Breen noted that the Clapp-Eliasberg coin was the only one he had recently seen but reported: "My notes indicate that I have at some time seen one or more others which have dropped out of sight."
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): Dannreuther reported just four auction appearances of this variety from 1990 to 2005 and suggests that just 10 to 12 examples of the variety survive. He wrote: "Another rarity among the early half eagles, this coin uses an obverse that was employed with two other reverse dies in 1799."
Heritage Commentary: Rarity is an important consideration when acquiring the early half eagle varieties, while market appearances are an equally important consideration. Based on appearances in our auctions since 1993, the following ranking determines availability: BD-9 (1); BD-3 (2); BD-4 (6); BD-7 (6); BD-5 (14); BD-8 (15); BD-2 (18); BD-1 (19); BD-6 (24).
Doug Winter Commentary: This is a very scarce to rare variety and it is the only one I can recall which lacks the strong obverse crack from star 12 to the neck of Liberty.
Provenance: Recorded in our roster below.
Roster of 1799 BD-4 Half Eagles
1. MS62 NGC. Walter H. Childs Collection (Bowers and Merena, 8/1999), lot 689; FUN Signature (Heritage, 7/2012), lot 4833; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 2/2013), lot 3947; ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/2018), lot 5238, $33,600; Heritage (12/2019), lot 3282, $27,600.
2. Unc Details, Scratch PCGS. Elmer S. Sears (1910); John H. Clapp; Clapp estate, to Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. (1942); Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 340; The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part II (Heritage, 1/2023), lot 9024, $16,800; Heritage (9/2023), lot 3110, $13,200.
3. AU55 PCGS. Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr., purchased privately on April 1, 2011. The present specimen.
4. AU55 Uncertified. Emery and Nichols Collections (Bowers and Merena, 9/1984), lot 1437.
5. AU55 Uncertified. Bowers and Merena (3/2003), lot 2260.
6. AU55 Uncertified. Stanley Kesselman (10/26/1972); Harry W. Bass, Jr. (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 731.
7. XF45 PCGS. Abner Kreisberg (9/1980), lot 1277; Superior (5/1989), lot 5579; Superior (10/1991), lot 3390; Stack's Bowers (4/2025), lot 4506, $12,600.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25NT, Variety PCGS# 519876, Base PCGS# 8081, Greysheet# 198184)
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.
Auction Info
2026 January 8 US Coins Signature Auction - FUN Special Sessions: Ellsworth & Jacobson #1389 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
January
8th
Thursday
3:50 pm CT
Auction Dates
January
8th
Thursday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining
13 Days
23h 24m 56s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 15
Lot Tracking Activity: 29
Page Views: 178
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
22% of the successful bid (minimum $29) per lot.
This lot is in: 1 -
Signature® Floor Session - Platinum Session - The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 1001-1068) - 4:00 PM Central Time, Thursday, January 8, 2026 (5:00 PM Eastern Time).
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]
Exhibition Viewing Times, Title Page, Floor Session and License Information
Additional Location Info:
Orange County Convention Center
North/South Building
9400 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
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