LOT #1002 |
Current Bid: $8,250
1795 $5 Small Eagle, S Over D, BD-5, R.7, AU58 PCGS....
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Description
1795 BD-5 Small Eagle Five, AU58
The Rare S Over D Variety
Ex: Earle, Clapp, Eliasberg
1795 $5 Small Eagle, S Over D, BD-5, R.7, AU58 PCGS.
HBJ-202. Prominent die lines extend diagonally across the
bust. Both sides exhibit lovely honey-gold surfaces with reflective
fields. A small dark inclusion is evident in Liberty's hair below
and left of the ear. Trivial marks are scattered over both sides of
this near-Mint half eagle. The BD-5 die marriage offered here is an
important rarity, while the other S Over D variety, BD-6, is
frequently encountered.Variety Equivalents: Adams-2, Mabbott-6, Breen 3-D, Hilt 1-A, Miller-5, Bass-3036.
Obverse Die: This is the only appearance of the obverse die.
Reverse Die: The reverse die was used here and for BD-6.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/a: There is no evidence of die deterioration on either side of this important variety. The second S in STATES is punched over an errant D on this reverse die that was used with two obverse dies.
PCGS Population Data (10/25): For all varieties of 1795 Small Eagle half eagles, PCGS has certified 57 examples as AU58, three in AU58+, and 88 finer (10/25).
Significant Examples: This example is tied for the finest known BD-5 with the similarly graded Bass Core Collection coin that we sold in January 2023. Four others are assigned lower AU grades, and two examples are recovered from jewelry. We know of just those eight surviving examples of this rare variety.
Breen (1966): "Pictured in Guidebook and Standard Catalogue; ANS 1914, plate 15. This is the variety given a half page description in Mike Kolman's August 1960 mail sale." Lot 1687-B in Kolman's Federal Coin Exchange sale detailed the die characteristics of this variety, including the unusual, doubled flag of the 5 in the date.
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): John Dannreuther suggests production of 300 to 600 examples of this important variety. Estimates of the mintage for individual varieties require a comparison of the survival estimate with the Mint's delivery records in addition to educated guesses. Dannreuther estimates that eight to 12 examples of this variety are known in all grades.
Heritage Commentary: This near-Mint example is just the fifth 1795 BD-5 half eagle that we have handled since our earliest auctions 50 years ago. When Walter Breen compiled his 1966 monograph, he rated this variety as R-5 although today we are certain that it has a greater rarity. Robert W. Miller, Sr., in United States Half Eagle Gold Coins 1795 to 1834, published in 1997, repeated Breen's R-5 estimate. In The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Museum Sylloge, Q. David Bowers and his associates, including Mark Borckardt and Andrew W. Pollock, III, understood the greater rarity: "Walter Breen described this as Rarity-5, however, it appears to be much rarer, perhaps with a surviving population of only 15 to 20 coins, if indeed that many."
Doug Winter Commentary: In my opinion, this spectacular variety should sell for a premium as it is distinct to the naked-eye. Two varieties are known: BD-5 (very rare) and BD-6 (scarce; especially in higher grades).
Provenance: Recorded in our roster below.
Roster of 1795 BD-5 Half Eagles:
1. AU58 PCGS. George H. Earle (Henry Chapman, 6/1912), lot 2325; John H. Clapp; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; Eliasberg Estate (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 323; Fred Weinberg (1982); East Coast Collection; Vintage Auctions (8/1989), lot 305; Superior (10/1990), lot 2075; later, purchased privately on August 9, 2007. The present specimen.
2. AU58 PCGS. 1968 ANA Sale (Abe Kosoff, 8/1968), lot 933; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection/FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2023), lot 9018.
3. AU55 (estimated grade). Stack's (11/1972), lot 793; Stack's (9/1984), lot 110.
4. AU55 NGC. Santa Clara Signature (Heritage, 11/2001), lot 6351.
5. AU55. Bowers and Ruddy (7/1981), lot 897.
6. AU50 (estimated grade). Stack's (10/1994), lot 1031.
7. AU Mount Removed NCS. Central States Signature (Heritage, 5/2007), lot 2273
8. EF. Ex Jewelry. Kagin's (1/1966), lot 1449.
Pollock-38: An example from this die pair exists in copper, certified VF25 NGC. This example has an unidentified undertype. The reverse is unevenly struck with weak central details and some additional weakness among certain letters of the legend. This is one of just two or three copper pieces known, each from a different die pair. See USPatterns.com for more information.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.
Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 519854, Base PCGS# 8066, Greysheet# 198173)
Weight: 8.75 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.
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
12 Days
10h 34m 40s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 9
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Buyer's Premium per Lot:
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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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