1797 $10 Large Eagle, BD-4, High R.4, MS62 NGC....

Description

1797 BD-4 Ten Dollar, MS62
Lustrous Heraldic Eagle Example
Probable Condition Census Quality

1797 $10 Large Eagle, BD-4, High R.4, MS62 NGC. Bass-Dannreuther Die State d/a. The forked die crack through the second 7 in the date is a familiar feature on the 1797 eagle, as this head die was used for all three Heraldic Eagle die marriages, and the earliest, BD-1, is undocumented in a perfect die state. The present coin is in the earlier die state of the BD-4 marriage, as the reverse is yet uncracked at the R and C in AMERICA. This is the final use of the obverse and the only use of this reverse, although no terminal die state coin has been verified.

BD-4 is one of the two most frequently seen 1797 varieties, although it is still itself scarce with only 90 to 110 pieces extant. This is the variety most likely to be represented by a Mint State coin, although any 1797 eagle in Uncirculated condition is a rare and sought-after item, particularly among type collectors. Most such pieces reside in MS61 and MS62 condition, although survivors are weighted toward the lower grade. Finer coins are prohibitively rare, and the prices they realize at auction attest to this.

The present MS62 representative stands out among its peers with a sharp, even strike that produces bold central and peripheral detail. The bright yellow-gold surfaces have light chatter in the fields that limits the grade but are without singular abrasions. The reverse exhibits an appealing semiprooflike reflection in the fields.

The last Mint State BD-4 example we offered was in lot 3827 of our February 2023 Long Beach Signature sale, where an MS62 PCGS coin soared to $108,000 as part of The Riverboat Collection of Early Eagles. The present piece compares well to that coin in terms of quality and eye appeal. This is the sort of high-end early gold type that often highlights a major numismatic auction, as it does in this sale. NGC Census (all Large Eagle varieties included): 11 in 62, 4 finer (11/23).
Ex: The Walter Freeman Collection, Part I/Dallas Signature (Heritage, 10/2016), lot 3321.
From The Bob Klein History of Money Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25ZY, Variety PCGS# 45719, Base PCGS# 8559, Greysheet# 198073)

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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