1795 $10 13 Leaves, BD-5, R.5, AU50 PCGS....

Description

1795 Draped Bust Ten Dollar, AU50
Exceptional Small Eagle Type
Rare BD-5 Variety

1795 $10 13 Leaves, BD-5, R.5, AU50 PCGS. Bass-Dannreuther Die State e/c. The rare BD-5 variety is the last of five die marriages to be struck in 1795 for a small mintage of 5,583 coins. In this latest die state, the obverse has a very small die crack at star 13. The obverse die was previously used to strike the BD-2 die combination, and is identified by the bust being slightly over the 5, with star 11 away from Y. For the reverse, attribution is made by the distinctive feature of having the palm branch tip touching the right inside serif of the last A in AMERICA. There is a die lump visible between OF and AMERICA, which could be a small die break or defect, as this lump is slightly larger than on the earlier usage of this reverse die on the BD-4 die pairing.

The first United States ten dollar gold coins were initially delivered on September 22, 1795, shortly after the first half eagle coins were delivered on July 31. Robert Scot was the first formally appointed chief engraver of the United States Mint, and was responsible for the design and engraving of the beautiful Draped Bust, Small Eagle ten dollar coins. In a late December, 1794 report to Congress, Scot described the process used to engrave the dies, starting with the central design on an incuse "Original Die" which was used to raise a "Hubb" in relief that was then used to sink a number of "Coining Dies", and lastly finishing the dies which included the hand punching of the lettering and date numerals.

Rich olive-gold toning with deep orange highlights blankets the surfaces of this exceptional specimen. Luster radiates from the protected areas of the coin that includes lettering and the date, along with eagle feathers and within the hair curls. There are scattered small and unobtrusive contact marks. The strike is strong, with the portrait and eagle displaying crisp design definition, as well as sharply formed stars. There is just some slight softness in the dentils adjacent to AMERICA, as very faint adjustment marks are seen, but they are obliterated with the strike in the other areas of the reverse including the eagle. Only the slightest wear is observed on the high points of the design. John Dannreuther described the rarity of the BD-5 die variety "This is the second scarcest variety among the five of 1795 with perhaps 35 to 45 examples still extant." Housed in a Generation 3.1 green label PCGS holder. This wonderful coin is a great representative of the Draped Bust, Small Eagle type and the BD-5 variety.
From The Presidio Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 45713, Base PCGS# 8551, Greysheet# 198070)

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.

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