LOT #3144 |
Current Bid: $185,000
1796 $10 BD-1, R.4, MS63 NGC....
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Description
1796 BD-1 Eagle, MS63
Condition Census
Rare in Any Mint State Grade
1796 $10 BD-1, R.4, MS63 NGC. Bass-Dannreuther Die State
c/b, the usual die state, with a heavy vertical die crack that runs
through Liberty's portrait into the field below the E in LIBERTY.
Clash marks on the reverse are carried over from the previous die
state. Beautiful mint luster adorns each side, showing bright
yellow-gold color with a vibrant, satiny cartwheel effect. The
border stars are nearly full, and the central devices exhibit
exceptional sharpness, with only minor softness seen on the eagle's
breast and right (facing) leg. Light abrasions are as expected for
the MS63 grade, at once limiting this coin's grade but also
rendering it high-end for the date and type. Minor field marks are
mostly unimportant to the naked eye. On the reverse, a threadlike
strike-through at the base of the D in UNITED serves as a pedigree
marker.The 1796 is a challenging date in the early eagle series. Only one die variety is documented. John Dannreuther, in Early U.S. Gold Coins Varieties, estimates that 3,500 to 4,146 pieces were struck. The mintage range includes a remarriage of the dies, with the late-state pieces being struck after some 1797 coins. However, only 125 to 175 pieces are believed to survive in all grades, and most are in circulated condition. Our roster includes 17 Mint State coins, including an impaired piece with Uncirculated details, and perhaps a couple more exist. The top 10 examples are detailed below, with the most recent grade information available. It is possible that the rankings would change slightly if the two pieces listed as uncertified are confirmed to have been graded and reside in grades other than those deduced at this time. Of those confirmed to survive, this MS63 NGC piece is one of three certified in the top numeric grade of MS63. It is rivaled only by an MS63 Prooflike NGC piece and an MS63 PCGS coin, as well as, of course, the Ketterman-Walter specimen believed to be possibly finer.
Roster of Mint State 1796 Eagles (compiled with assistance from Ron Guth of the Numismatic Detective Agency)
1. Very Choice Brilliant Uncirculated Uncertified. Grant Pierce & Sons Collection (Stack's, 5/1965), lot 1431, $2,300; Dr. Ketterman Collection / Auction '82 (RARCOA, 8/1982), lot 941, $29,000; John Whitney Walter Collection (Stack's, 5/1999), lot 1795, $74,750.
2. MS63PL NGC. Chicago Sale (RARCOA and David W. Akers, 8/1991), lot 1035, $19,800; Pre-Long Beach (Superior, 2/2000), lot 1174; Benson II Collection (Goldberg Auctions, 2/2002), lot 2055, $63,250; New York ANA (Superior, 8/2002), lot 2050, $58,650; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2004), lot 3053, $92,000; Haig A. Koshkarian Collection (American Numismatic Rarities, 3/2004), lot 1490, $108,100; Semper Fi Collection of 1796 Rarities (Great Collections, 10/2025), lot 1477547.
3. MS63 PCGS. Davies and Niewohner Collections (Paramount, 2/1975), lot 605; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part III (Bowers and Merena, 5/2000), lot 559, $85,100.
4. MS63 NGC. George H. Earle, Jr. Collection (Henry Chapman, 6/1912), lot 2288; Pittsburgh Elite (Superior, 8/2004), lot 1033, $115,000; Bergstrom and Husky Collections (Stack's, 6/2008), lot 2092, $322,000. The present coin.
5. Brilliant Uncirculated Uncertified. Public Auction Sale (Stack's, 6/1993), lot 1344, $35,200.
6. MS62+ CAC PCGS. Dr. William A. Bartlett Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 11/1979), lot 2788; Auction '80 (Paramount, 8/1980), lot 950, $58,000; D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part II (Stack's Bowers & Sotheby's, 9/2015), lot 2093, $411,250; Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part XII (Heritage, 5/2024), lot 4577, $360,000.
7. MS62 PCGS. Byron Reed Collection - Durham Western Heritage Museum (Spink America, 10/1996), lot 151, $66,000; Hillman, Reed et al Collections (Stack's, 10/2003), lot 2175, $46,000; Medio/Da Costa Gomez Collections (Stack's/ANR, 6/2004), lot 3332, $72,450; C.L. Lee Sale (American Numismatic Rarities, 9/2005), lot 1301, $115,000; Pre-Long Beach (Goldberg Auctions, 2/2006), lot 1229, $138,000; Pre-Long Beach (Goldberg Auctions, 2/2009), lot 1520, $161,000; Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection (Stack's Bowers, 11/2022), lot 4006, $300,000; Great Collections, 2/2025, $249,194.
8. MS62 NGC. C.L. Lee Sale (American Numismatic Rarities, 9/2005), lot 1302, $109,250; Eagle Ridge Signature Collection (Superior, 8/2007), lot 852, $155,250; Caleb Louis Collection (Heritage, 8/2010), lot 3536, $132,250; Chicago Platinum (Heritage, 8/2011), lot 7591, $149,500; Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2014), lot 5757, $164,500.
9. MS61 PCGS. Global Showcase Auction (Stack's Bowers, 8/2023), lot 5141, $168,000.
10. MS61 PCGS. RARCOA, sold privately on 2/3/1975; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part III (Heritage, 5/2023), lot 4573, $126,000.
11+. At least seven additional examples have been certified at the MS61 level by PCGS and NGC.
From The Hawkeye Collection.
Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 45715, Base PCGS# 8554)
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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Auction Info
2025 October 2 - 5 GACC US Coins Signature® Auction #1386 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
October
2nd
Thursday
12:50 pm CT
Auction Dates
October
2nd-5th
Thursday-Sunday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining
13 Days
23h 13m 20s
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Signature® Premier Floor Session - PREMIER (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
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Additional Location Info:
Heritage Auctions
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
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