LOT #1005 |
Current Bid: $3,500
1795 $5 Small Eagle, BD-11, R.8 -- Repaired -- PCGS Genuine. AU Details. ...
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Description
1795 BD-11 Small Eagle Five, AU Details
From the Bass Core Collection
The Rarest 1795 Small Eagle Variety
Possibly Unique
1795 $5 Small Eagle, BD-11, R.8 -- Repaired -- PCGS Genuine. AU
Details. HBJ-205. Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection.
Exhibiting brilliant green-gold surfaces, this important half eagle
has a small diagonal impairment below the first S of STATES, with
light cleaning lines on both sides. This is likely an "ex-jewelry"
coin. Despite its flaws, overall eye appeal remains pleasing, and
the devices are strong.Variety Equivalents: Variety Equivalents: Adams-12, Mabbott-16, Breen 7-H, Hilt 7-H, Miller-11, Bass-3042.
Obverse Die: The obverse appears here and on the 1795 BD-15 Heraldic Eagle variety.
Reverse Die: This is the only appearance of the reverse die.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/a: No later die states are reported among the small population.
Significant Examples: When Andrew W. Pollock, III studied the early gold varieties in the 1990s, he knew of just one example solely from an illustration of the reverse die in Robert Hilt's 1980 reference: Die Varieties of Early United States Coins. The present cataloger, who also studied early gold varieties in the late 1990s, knew of this Bass Collection example as the lone survivor from these dies. The reverse plate in Robert Hilt's reference matches the present coin.
Breen (1966): "Adams mentioned only a coin formerly owned by Guttag Bros. This may or may not be the same piece which cost Waldo Newcomer $500 VF and which was later in the Col. Green collection, illustrated by Mabbott."
Breen's reference to Thomas Ollive Mabbott was "The Varieties of the Half Eagle of 1795" that appeared in the July 1944 issue of the Numismatic Review. This article was based primarily on the collection of Col. E.H.R. Green and included 16 variations of Small Eagle coinage and two varieties of Heraldic Eagle coinage. Several of those varieties listed are more properly called die states today. Two photographic plates illustrated 16 of the 18 identified combinations and remain useful for pedigree purposes. Most of the coins from the plates were from the Col. E.H.R. Green Collection. The identification of known varieties was complete, with no new varieties identified since that time.
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): Dannreuther reports that three to five examples are known and further reported two auction appearances between 1990 and 2005. The two auction appearances reported to him are misattributions of BD-12.
Dannreuther commented on rare varieties in general: "Today, collectors do not understand that until very recently, rarity was king. Newcomer paid handsomely for rare coins, regardless of condition, as did Harry Bass-if they needed it. Bass actually bought both rarity and condition for he constantly upgraded examples of varieties he already had. If he had the die state, the duplicate was used as trade bait for something else he needed. Quality also was appreciated by collectors of the past, just not above rarity, as sometimes is the case today."
Heritage Commentary: When we offered this example in 2023, it was the first appearance of BD-11 in any of our auctions since 1993, and likely the only appearance in our sales since the first auction event 50 years ago. Following extensive investigation, we believe that the 1795 BD-11 half eagle is unique or perhaps one of two known. The late Harry W. Bass, Jr., recorded in his notes that this example is the only one known. The Adams plate from the Coin Collectors Journal may be a second example although the printed reproduction of a 1930s-era photograph is insufficient for plate matching.
Doug Winter Commentary: If the level of popularity for early gold approximated that of early halves, this remarkable coin would be one of the stars of this sale. Given the high entry price, variety sets of early half eagles will never be great in number but, for any collector who is even considering such an endeavor, this is a coin he or she can't pass up.
Provenance: Abe Kosoff (8/14/1972); Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection (Heritage, 8/2023), lot 9028. Possibly earlier from Waldo C. Newcomer and Col. E.H.R. Green.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.
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.
Auction Info
2026 January 8 US Coins Signature Auction - FUN Special Sessions: Ellsworth & Jacobson #1389 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
January
8th
Thursday
3:50 pm CT
Auction Dates
January
8th
Thursday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining
13 Days
5h 56m 23s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 8
Lot Tracking Activity: 28
Page Views: 221
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
22% of the successful bid (minimum $29) per lot.
This lot is in: 1 -
Signature® Floor Session - Platinum Session - The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 1001-1068) - 4:00 PM Central Time, Thursday, January 8, 2026 (5:00 PM Eastern Time).
[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.]
Exhibition Viewing Times, Title Page, Floor Session and License Information
Additional Location Info:
Orange County Convention Center
North/South Building
9400 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
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