LOT #3116 |
Current Bid: $35,000
1796/5 $5 BD-1, High R.4, AU55 NGC....
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Description
1796/5 BD-1 Half Eagle, AU55
Elusive Early Gold Issue
1796/5 $5 BD-1, High R.4, AU55 NGC. Bass-Dannreuther Die
State a/b. The obverse die shows evidence of the late state crack
that John Dannreuther describes from the border below the 9 to the
bottom of the 6. The reverse shows die lapping among leaves in the
wreath. Mint delivery records show a production of 8,707 half
eagles between July 31 and September 16, 1795, another 6,196 coins
between June 28 and December 22, 1796, and 3,609 coins delivered
between January 14 and August 28, 1797.However, those delivery records fail to tell us how many coins were struck with each date, nor what design was produced, although a reasonable assumption is that the 18,512 half eagles minted during those 24 months were all the Small Eagle coins. We are certain that the 8,707 coins delivered in 1795 were dated 1795. Beginning with the 1796 coinage, estimates are the best we can hope for, and several early gold enthusiasts have differing opinions.
We have previously offered 1796 half eagles 49 times in our auctions since 1993, and that total represents a smaller number of different examples. Two appearances graded MS62 are a single coin, offered in an NGC holder in 2011 and a PCGS holder in 2018. Three offerings graded MS61 are for different coins. Nine AU58 appearances represent six different coins, and four AU55 offerings were two different coins. Just 10 finer coins have appeared in Heritage auction events over more than 30 years. Hints of orange toning appear on the green-gold surfaces of this lovely Choice AU half eagle that exhibits inconsequential handling marks that are consistent with the grade. Census: 3 in 55, 23 finer (8/25).
From The Hawkeye Collection.
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# BFWU, Variety PCGS# 519862, Base PCGS# 8067)
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.
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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
16 Days
2h 39m 10s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 15
Lot Tracking Activity: 18
Page Views: 104
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid (minimum $29) per lot.
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.]
Exhibition Viewing Times, Title Page, Floor Session and License Information
Additional Location Info:
Heritage Auctions
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
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