1795 $10 13 Leaves, BD-1, High R.3, AU53 PCGS. OGH....

Description

1795 BD-1 Eagle, AU53
13 Leaves Variety
First Eagle Variety Produced

1795 $10 13 Leaves, BD-1, High R.3, AU53 PCGS. OGH. Reflective fields blanket radiant green-gold surfaces that have claims to semi-prooflike status. Minor abrasions and faint hairlines are present, along with a few minor patches of concentrated roughness. A single light scratch crosses Liberty's cheek. Both sides are quite sharply struck, although not fully defined. This wonderful specimen is housed in a Generation 3.0 old green label holder.

The first gold coins issued by the newly formed United States of America were the 744 half eagles delivered on July 31, 1795. The first delivery of eagles followed just under two months later, to the tune of 1,097 pieces. This represented an important milestone in the Mint's development, as the ten dollar gold eagles were intended as the "unit" of gold coinage, much like the silver dollar was the "unit" of silver coinage. The design was essentially the same as its five dollar counterpart, and the new eagle was also made of 0.917 fine gold, as per the specifications outlined by the Mint Act of April 2, 1792. Each was to weigh 270 grains, containing 247.6 grains of gold and 22.4 grains of alloy, usually copper with traces of silver.

The BD-1 die marriage represented the inaugural production from the Mint's highest denomination. Bass-Dannreuther estimate in their seminal 2006 reference that 225 to 325 examples of this die marriage survive, making it the most available Small Eagle die marriage of this denomination. Assuming Robert Hilt's estimated survival rate of 6.8% for the quarter eagles of this era can be extrapolated to the eagle denomination (and there is reason to believe that fewer eagles were set aside on account of their higher face value), the original mintage of this die marriage is between 3,300 and 4,800 coins, which corresponds to all of the eagle production from calendar year 1795, as well as a couple of the early deliveries at the beginning of 1796. Population (BD-1): 0 in 53, 5 finer (9/25).
Ex: The Royal Oak Collection / ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/2006), lot 5538.
From The Costa Family Collection, Part II.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25ZU, Variety PCGS# 45710, Base PCGS# 8551, Greysheet# 198067)

Weight: 17.50 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 II ]

View Certification Details from PCGS