1795 $10 13 Leaves, BD-2, High R.4, MS63 PCGS....

Description

1795 BD-2 Eagle, MS63
High Condition Census
From the Earle and Eliasberg Collections

1795 $10 13 Leaves, BD-2, High R.4, MS63 PCGS. Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection. Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/d. The obverse die is perfect in this use, the first of three appearances. This obverse was reused for BD-3, the famous Nine Leaves variety, and later for 1795 BD-5. The reverse appears here for the second time following its use for BD-1 and makes no later appearances. The obverse dies of BD-1 and BD-2 that share this reverse are similar in appearance. All of the right-hand stars on BD-1 are joined or appear to touch, and the top right star is extremely close to the serif of the Y. On BD-2, all of those stars are separated and the top right star is distant from the Y. The base of L is slightly above the bottoms of IB on BD-1, whereas LIB is even at their base on BD-2. The top of the 5 is straight and touches the drapery on BD-2 while the 5 on BD-1 has a sharp upward projection into the drapery.

This coin was reported in the Eliasberg catalog as an example from Henry Chapman in 1909 to J.M. Clapp. However, that is not correct. The Clapp notebook identifies one of the 1795 eagles in that collection from the "Chapman Sale Oct. 09." The only October 1909 Chapman sale was S.H. Chapman's auction of the Gordon Zug Collection and this piece does not match the written description of any 1795 eagle in that catalog. It does match the plate of lot 2286 in Henry Chapman's June 1912 sale of the Earle Collection. The coin was graded "Very Fine" in the Earle catalog and sold to "Clapp" for $32.00.

Harry W. Bass, Jr. purchased two 1795 eagles from the Eliasberg Collection, and both had incorrect pedigrees in the Eliasberg catalog. The other coin is the 1795 BD-4 offered next in the present selection of coins from the Bass Collection. That coin was pedigreed to the Petry Collection in the Eliasberg catalog, but the only 1795 eagle in the Petry catalog was sold to George H. Earle. The coin was graded "Very Fine" in the Petry catalog, and the three 1795 eagles in Earle were graded Very Fine, Extremely Fine, and Uncirculated. The present coin is likely the same piece that Earle bought from the Petry Collection.

The 1795 BD-2 eagle has an estimated population of 90 to 110 coins in all grades, the second most plentiful variety of the year. Mint State examples of this variety are elusive, and the present piece ranks high in the Condition Census. We know of just one other similarly graded example that appeared in our FUN Signature event of January 2007. Perhaps just five or six other Mint State pieces survive from this die pair.

Central design weakness is typical and does little to diminish the importance of this piece that is one of the finest known 1795 BD-2 eagles. The design weakness is certainly related to the faint adjustment marks in the central obverse. Additional adjustment marks are hidden among the denticles of the obverse border. Scattered surface marks are evident on both sides, including a small scrape on the eagle's breast that is the only mark worth mentioning. Both sides are fully lustrous in brilliant green-gold with splashes of delicate coppery-orange toning. Population for all 13 Leaves varieties: 11 in 63 (1 in 63+), 9 finer (1/23). Population for BD-2: 1 in 63, 0 finer (1/23).
Ex: George H. Earle Collection (Henry Chapman, 6/1912), lot 2286; John H. Clapp; Clapp Estate (1942); Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; Eliasberg Estate (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 645. Possibly earlier from the Nicholas Petry Collection (S.H. and H. Chapman, 5/1893), lot 305.
From The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25ZU, Variety PCGS# 45711, Base PCGS# 8551, Greysheet# 198068)

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.

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