1795 $10 13 Leaves, BD-1, High R.3, MS64 PCGS....

Description

1795 BD-1 13 Leaves Ten Dollar, MS64
The Bass-Dannreuther Plate Coin
Likely the Terminal Die State

1795 $10 13 Leaves, BD-1, High R.3, MS64 PCGS. Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection. Bass-Dannreuther state c/b. Star 11 nearly touches the Y with the left top of that letter elongated below minuscule die lumps. The tip of a palm leaf nearly or apparently touches the left curve of the U in UNITED. The obverse has a delicate die crack from the border over Star 9, through that star and continuing down to Star 1. The crack has advanced to the base of the 1 and 7, and nearly reaches the bottom of the 9 in the date. Another crack joins the last two stars on the right to the bust. Multiple die lumps of varying size appear over the T and Y of LIBERTY. The reverse shows a faint die crack from the rim to the right top of the M in AMERICA. The other cracks described for reverse state b are not apparent on this piece. Vertical die lines extend down from several of the leaf tips on the reverse. The obverse die must have failed during its use for this variety, as it makes no other appearances, while the reverse die reappeared for BD-2.

On April 2, 1792, Congress passed the Mint Act that established the U.S. Mint. Section 9 of that legislation specified gold quarter eagles, half eagles, and eagles. Following the Mint impediment, the story which has been told many times, the Philadelphia Mint was finally ready to produce gold coins in 1795. The first half eagles were coined at the end of July 1795, and the first eagles were minted in September.

The 1795 BD-1 eagle, the most plentiful 1795 variety, is considered the first U.S. Mint $10 gold coin. The Mint's delivery warrant 39 was issued on September 22, 1795, and included 1,097 eagles, all early die states of the 1795 BD-1 eagles. The present die state c/b coin was struck later in the year. John Dannreuther estimates the mintage of 1795 BD-1 between 2,795 and 5,583 coins, and he estimates the total 1795 eagle mintage between 5,859 and 10,915 coins. His estimated mintage for the Small Eagle type falls in the range of 10,609 and 18,676 coins.

This variety is the most easily obtained eagle with the Small Eagle reverse design. However, it remains elusive in Mint State. PCGS has only certified 76 Mint State examples of the design, including just five coins certified as MS64, and five others in finer grades. The roster presented below suggests that the present piece is the fifth finest 1795 BD-1 eagle.

A lovely Choice Mint State example, this 1795 eagle shows the usual grade-consistent surface marks that prevent a Gem classification. Both sides of this brilliant yellow-gold eagle are lustrous and highly attractive. Nearly horizontal, and extremely faint, adjustment marks cross the hair behind Liberty's ear, while other adjustment marks are confined to the obverse border dentils. No adjustment marks are noted on the reverse. PCGS Population for all 1795 13 leaves varieties: 4 in 64 (3 in 64+), 5 finer (8/22).

A Roster of Significant Examples
1. MS65 PCGS. Bowers and Merena (8/2003), lot 4039, $506,000; Far Fast Eagle Collection (PCGS Set Registry).
2. MS65 NGC. Gold Rush Collection (Heritage, 1/2005), lot 30054, $460,000; ANA Sale (Bowers and Merena, 8/2006), lot 4296, $494,500; Tyrant Collection (Coin 1, displayed at the 2/2020 Long Beach Expo).
3. MS64+ PCGS CAC. George H. Earle, Jr. Collection (Henry Chapman, 6/1912), lot 2285; Regency Auction 31 (Legend Rare Coin Auctions, 3/2019), lot 422, $822,500; Bruce Morelan Collection (Legend Rare Coin Auctions, 10/2020), lot 10, not sold.
4. MS64+ PCGS. Rarities Sale (Bowers and Merena, 8/1999), lot 415, $138,000; American Numismatic Rarities, (6/2005), lot 1014, $414,000; Stack's (7/2008), lot 2564, $546,250; Bob R. Simpson Collection.
5. MS64 PCGS. Bartle Family Collection (Stack's 10/1984), lot 1118; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 3169). The present coin.
6. MS64 NGC. Freedom Collection (Heritage, 1/2007), lot 3605, not sold; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 2/2007), lot 4705, $345,000; Goldberg Auctions (9/2007), lot 3352, $448,500; Ohringer Family Trust Holdings, Part II (Goldberg Auctions, 9/2008), lot 1268, not sold; Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 9/2020), lot 3747, $288,000.
7. MS64 NGC. Eliasberg Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 642, $39,600; Bowers and Merena (1/1990), lot 583, $50,600; Bowers and Merena (8/2009), lot 4655, $276,000; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2011), lot 5170, $322,000; Baltimore Auction (Stack's Bowers, 3/2012), lot 4328, $258,750.
8. MS63+ PCGS. Stack's (10/1990), lot 1332, $49,500.
9. MS63 PCGS CAC. Gaston DiBello Collection, Part II (Stack's, 5/1970), lot 1020; Auction '83 (Stack's, 7/1983), lot 861; Minot Collection (Stack's, 5/2008), lot 4291, $402,500; Baltimore Signature (Heritage, 3/2009), lot 3055, $322,000; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2013), lot 5895, $282,000.
10. MS63 PCGS CAC. Public Auction Sale (Stack's, 6/1993), lot 1341, $56,100; New Orleans Collection (Heritage, 4/2015), lot 5371, $282,000.
From The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part I.

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

Metal: 91.67% Gold, 8.33% Copper
Weight: 17.50 grams
AGW: 0.57oz
Mintage: 5,583

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 Certification Details from PCGS