- More
1795 $5 Small Eagle, BD-4, R.5, MS60 NGC. CAC....
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Description
1795 Small Eagle Five, BD-4, MS60
Rare First-Year Variety
1795 $5 Small Eagle, BD-4, R.5, MS60 NGC. CAC.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State c/a. The Mint Director's report for the
year 1795 showed a total production of 8,707 half eagles, all of
the Small Eagle reverse type. Eight obverse dies and nine reverse
dies were employed for the coinage, comprising 12 individual die
marriages. Three of these obverse dies were later paired to Large
Eagle reverses, circa late 1797 to 1798, but those extremely
limited mintages are not included in the production total of
1795.Of the Small Eagle 1795 varieties, BD-3 is the most frequently seen, estimated to survive in numbers of 175 to 225 coins; every other variety is significantly rarer, although some are still collectible. BD-4 has the distinction of being the second most available die pairing overall, but still surviving to the extent of only 60 to 75 coins. Among early gold eagle varieties, this is considered available, even though the uninformed collector will find an example extremely difficult to locate.
Walter Breen once reasoned that BD-4 was the first die pair used for half eagle coinage in 1795, although modern research of die states debunks that theory. The obverse is seen here in its third and final use, having been previously employed for BD-2 and BD-3. Moreover, the tail die used for BD-2 is in a later die state than it is on the BD-1 marriage, which confirms without a doubt that all three of those varieties were struck prior to BD-4, with BD-1 being the first die pair employed for half eagle coinage in July 1795. The reverse die on BD-4 is seen here in its only use.
BD-4 fills a sweet spot for the casual date or type collector; the variety is somewhat scarcer than is BD-3 for the rarity enthusiast who wishes to stray from that issue's perceived availability, but it is not so difficult to locate as to dampen one's persistence or collecting enjoyment. The present piece is an appealing lower-end Mint State example, with semireflective, yellow-gold fields that exhibit tinges of deeper rose-gold around the peripheries. The strike is a trifle soft in the centers and the left obverse border is not fully brought up, allowing faint remnants of mint-made adjustment marks to be seen in both areas with a loupe. There are no individually detracting abrasions, and we instead note just light chatter in the fields that limits the grade. An excellent representative of this scarce first-year Small Eagle variety.
From The Big Sky Collection.
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25ND, Variety PCGS# 519853, Base PCGS# 8066)
Weight: 8.75 grams
Metal: 91.67% Gold, 8.33% Copper
Learn more at the Newman Numismatic Portal at Washington University in St. Louis.
View all of [The Big Sky Collection ]
Auction Info
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
17.5% of the successful bid (minimum $14) per lot.
Calculate Standard Domestic Shipping Sales Tax information | NGC Coin Grading Guarantee
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms | Coin Grading Tutorial
Floor auctions
Open for bidding: (View All)Fine Art
Ends on 03/05/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Ends on 03/05/2021
US Coins
Ends on 03/08/2021
Photography
Ends on 03/10/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 03/11/2021
Decorative Art
Ends on 03/11/2021
Fine & Rare Wine
Ends on 03/12/2021
Western & Texas Art
Ends on 03/12/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Ends on 03/13/2021
US Coins
Ends on 03/15/2021
Decorative Art
Ends on 03/16/2021
US Coins
Ends on 03/17/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 03/17/2021
Sports Collectibles
Ends on 03/18/2021
Nature & Science
Ends on 03/19/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 03/21/2021
US Coins
Ends on 03/22/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 03/24/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 03/25/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Ends on 03/25/2021
Movie Posters
Ends on 03/27/2021
Luxury Real Estate
Opens about 01/22/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Opens about 03/08/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Opens about 03/12/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Opens about 03/07/2021
Currency
Opens about 03/08/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 03/17/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Opens about 03/19/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 03/18/2021
US Coins
Opens about 03/08/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Opens about 02/24/2021
Musical Instruments
Opens about 03/23/2021
Photography
Opens about 03/22/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 03/23/2021
Photography
Opens about 03/24/2021
Currency
Opens about 03/26/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Opens about 03/18/2021
Sports Collectibles
Opens about 04/01/2021
US Coins
Opens about 03/16/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 03/26/2021
Historical
Opens about 03/29/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Opens about 03/21/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 03/31/2021
US Coins
Opens about 04/02/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 04/01/2021
Currency
Opens about 04/02/2021
US Coins
Opens about 03/22/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Opens about 03/28/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 04/06/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 04/08/2021
Illustration Art
Opens about 04/09/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 04/09/2021
Entertainment
Opens about 04/12/2021
Luxury Accessories
Opens about 04/12/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Opens about 04/02/2021
Heritage membership
- Past Auction Values (prices, photos, full descriptions, etc.)
- Bid online
- Free Collector newsletter
- Want List with instant e-mail notifications
- Reduced auction commissions when you resell your
winnings
- Cash Advances
- More Bidders
- Trusted Experts
- Over 200,000 Satisfied Consignors Since 1976
Learn about consigning with us
The pre-sale publicity was more than I imagined, and the actual catalog better than I had expected - and my expectations were high!View More Testimonials
[ Entire Letter » ]
HA.com receives more traffic than any other auction house website. (Source: Similarweb.com)
Video tutorial
Getting the most out of search