1795 $10 13 Leaves, BD-4, R.5, AU58 PCGS....

Description

1795 BD-4 Eagle, AU58
Condition Census
From the Eliasberg Collection

1795 $10 13 Leaves, BD-4, R.5, AU58 PCGS. Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection. Bass-Dannreuther Die State b/b. The obverse has a faint die crack from star 10 to the tops of LIBE. The reverse is cracked through the tops of ITED ST and always displays the die lump left of the first A in AMERICA. John Dannreuther writes: "This is the easiest variety of 1795 eagles to recognize, as it is the only one with the 5 free of the bust." The BD-4 eagle is also the only 1795 that has star 10 touching the cap. Either of those diagnostics provides arms-length attribution. Some observers may argue that star 10 does not touch the cap, and that is technically true, but all other varieties have that star far from the cap and more-or-less centered between the cap and the border.

Like the 1795 BD-2, this piece has an incorrect source in the Eliasberg catalog from the Nicholas Petry Collection that S.H. and H. Chapman sold in May 1893. The Petry Collection bid book on the Newman Numismatic Portal shows the buyer of the only 1795 eagle in that collection as "Earle" meaning George H. Earle whose collection Henry Chapman sold in June 1912. That identification may also attach the Petry provenance to the BD-2 offered in the present selection of Bass Collection coins. Furthermore, the Clapp notebook shows the source of this coin as "Collins," probably the Washington D.C. treasury-agent turned coin dealer, Benjamin H. Collins (1845-1928).

Dannreuther considers the 1795 BD-4 to be the third rarest 1795 eagle variety with an estimate of 60 to 80 examples known. In his early gold monograph, Walter Breen considered this variety the second rarest behind the Nine Leaves variety. While rarity is an important aspect of collecting, market research into availability is also important. While we have offered an example of this variety 26 times since 1993, only six of those appearances are for problem-free coins, and only one piece, graded MS64 NGC is finer than the present Bass Collection coin that is tied for the second best we have offered.

The present piece from the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection ranks high in the BD-4 Condition Census. Rich coppery-orange highlights appear at the obverse and reverse periphery of this piece, providing an attractive frame for the lovely green-gold surfaces. This example is well-struck, including in the centers, despite faint adjustment marks that affect the obverse border detail over LIBERTY and the opposing reverse dentils.
Population for all varieties: 34 in 58 (1 in 58+), 50 finer (1/23). Population for BD-4: 2 in 58, 1 finer (1/23).
Ex: Collins; J.M. Clapp; John H. Clapp; Clapp Estate (1942); Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; Eliasberg Estate (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 644.
From The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part III.

Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 45712, Base PCGS# 8551, Greysheet# 198069)

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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