LOT #1003 |
Current Bid: $6,969
1795 $5 Small Eagle, BD-7, Low R.7, AU53 PCGS....
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Description
1795 BD-7 Small Eagle Five, AU53
The Fourth Best of 10 Known
1795 $5 Small Eagle, BD-7, Low R.7, AU53 PCGS.
HBJ-203. Though distinctly rubbed at Liberty's nose and the
eagle's breast, this yellow-gold example remains remarkably
lustrous, with mildly prooflike elements in the peripheral
protected areas. Solid central detail with numerous small but
individually inoffensive marks that are consistent with both brief
circulation and the grade assigned.Variety Equivalents: Adams-11, Mabbott-13, 14, Breen 5-E, Hilt 5-E, Miller-7, Bass-3038.
Obverse Die: The obverse die was used for this BD-7 Small Eagle variety and for the BD-14 Heraldic Eagle variety.
Reverse Die: The reverse die appears here and for BD-9.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/a: Both dies are perfect with no indication of clash marks, die cracks, or lapping.
PCGS Population Data (10/25): For all 12 1795 Small Eagle varieties, PCGS has certified 44 examples in AU53, 72 in AU55, 60 in AU58, and 88 Mint State submissions.
Significant Examples: This representative is the fourth finest of 10 examples known to us. Those 10 coins are graded MS62, MS61, AU55, AU53 (offered here), XF (4), and impaired (2).
Breen (1966): "Specimens were in the Newcomer, Woodin and Col. Green collections, and Adams mentions one formerly owned by the Guttag Bros. No recent records. None in Eliasberg. This obverse die, evidently in use only briefly, was resurrected in 1797 and recombined with a Heraldic Eagle reverse; it is possibly easier to find with the Heraldic die."
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): John Dannreuther estimates eight to 12 survivors from a mintage thought to be 300 to 600 coins. He writes: "Harry Bass had only one example in his collection and may have been offered other examples, but likely they were in the same die state as the core collection coin." He continues to discuss 1795 Small Eagle coins in general: "The varieties of 1795 half eagle have been studied more thoroughly than the later issues of this denomination, so the rarity ranking is unlikely to be severely modified."
Heritage Commentary: This is just the fifth appearance of the 1795 BD-7 half eagle, formerly attributed as Breen 5-E, that we have offered since we began our Permanent Auction Archives in 1993. We presented a roster of eight examples in our May 2023 offering of the Bass Core Collection coin, the only example that Harry W. Bass Jr. acquired in his three decades of collecting. Two additional examples are added, bringing the total to 10 known survivors from this die marriage. However, there may also be some duplication of fewer examples.
Doug Winter Commentary: A major rarity for the variety specialist. If you are looking for an example you might not get a second chance!
Provenance: Recorded in our roster.
A Roster of 1795 BD-7 Half Eagles:
1. MS62 NGC CAC. Pittsburgh Signature (Heritage, 10/2011), lot 4854, $92,000.
2. MS61 PCGS. Stanley Kesselman, sold privately on 10/26/1972; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection (Heritage, 5/2023), lot 4532.
3. AU55 PCGS. Pittsburgh Elite (Superior, 8/2004), lot 976, $31,050; Allison Park Collection (American Numismatic Rarities, 3/2006), lot 1552, $52,900; Waccabuc Collection (Stack's, 11/2007), lot 1116, $69,000.
4. AU53 PCGS. Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 2/2010), lot 1546, $38,813; Purchased privately on August 11, 2010. The present specimen.
5. AU Details -- Mount Removed -- Uncertified. Mid-Atlantic (Kagin's, 11/1974), lot 1611; Casterline et al Collections (Superior, 5/1989), lot 1853; Jascha Heifetz Collection (Superior, 10/1989), lot 4302.
6. XF40 Uncertified. FUN Sale (Mid-American Rare Coin Auctions, 1/1988), lot 1973; Robert W. Rusbar Collection (Bowers and Merena, 9/1990), lot 496, $6,380.
7. XF Uncertified. Devonshire Sale (New England Rare Coin Auctions, 11/1977), lot 922.
8. XF Details -- Mount Removed -- Uncertified. Bernard L. Copeland Collection (Stack's, 4/1967), lot 1630, $900; George F. Scanlon Collection (Stack's, 10/1973), lot 2249, $1,450. This may be coin #5 above but plate-matching is inconclusive.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.
Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 519856, Base PCGS# 8066, Greysheet# 198167)
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
9 Days
23h 47m 52s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 9
Lot Tracking Activity: 39
Page Views: 2,873
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
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms | US & World Coin Grading Tutorial
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms | US & World Coin Grading Tutorial