LOT #3145 |
Current Bid: $4,100
1797 $10 Small Eagle, BD-1, R.5, AU53 PCGS....
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Description
1797 Capped Bust Right Eagle, AU53
Elusive Small Eagle, BD-1 Variety
Only Dies for the Date and Type
1797 $10 Small Eagle, BD-1, R.5, AU53 PCGS. Bass-Dannreuther
Die State b/b, the usual die sate with a radial die crack from the
obverse border just below the lowest right-hand star and a faint
secondary crack from the start of the primary crack over to the
drapery. A small mintage of 3,615 Capped Bust Right eagles was
struck with the old Small Eagle reverse die in 1797, before the
design was switched over to the Heraldic Eagle motif. A single die
variety is known for the date and type, classified as BD-1 by John
Dannreuther in his outstanding series reference. The BD-1 is
scarce-to-rare in all grades today, with a surviving population of
just 55-65 examples. This was the only use of the obverse die, but
the reverse was used previously to strike all the 1796-dated
eagles. Die evidence suggests some 1796-dated coins were struck
first, then the 1797 mintage was accomplished, and then there was a
remarriage of the 1796 obverse with this reverse (in a later die
state) to finish off the 1796 production. If this is true, the
reported mintage for 1797 may include some 1796-dated coins, as
well.The Capped Bust Right eagles were popular with well-heeled collectors in the early days of the hobby and the elusive nature of the 1797 Small Eagle variety was understood by catalogers by the mid-1860s. An example in lot 1616 of the Fifth Semi-Annual Sale (W. Elliot Woodward, 10/1864) was described as, "1797 Small eagle reverse, four stars at right; a splendid uncirculated piece, of the highest degree of rarity." The lot realized a hefty $40, more than any other early eagle in the sale, to prominent Ohio collector Heman Ely. Recent sales include the AU53 PCGS example in a Stack's sale in 2022 that realized $174,000.
The present coin is an impressive AU53 example, with just a trace of high-point wear on the strongly impressed design elements. There is some loss of detail on the eagle's head and breast due to lapping. The pleasing orange-gold surfaces show the expected number of minor abrasions for the grade, but none are large or distracting. Traces of original mint luster remain in sheltered areas. The overall presentation is most attractive. Population: 8 in 53, 11 finer (8/25).
From The Hawkeye Collection.
Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 45716, Base PCGS# 8555)
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.
View all of [The Hawkeye Collection. ]
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
18 Days
5h 3m 40s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 9
Lot Tracking Activity: 28
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This lot is in: 1 -
Signature® Premier Floor Session - PREMIER (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 3001-3238) - 1:00 PM Central Time, Thursday, October 2, 2025.
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]
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Heritage Auctions
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
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