1799 $5 Small Reverse Stars, BD-3, R.7, AU55 PCGS....

Description

1799 BD-3 Half Eagle, AU55
Small Reverse Stars
From the 1999 Bass Auction

1799 $5 Small Reverse Stars, BD-3, R.7, AU55 PCGS. HBJ-214. Ex: HW Bass, Jr. While faint wear appears as rich orange on the high points of this Choice AU example, the lightly reflective surfaces exhibit brilliant honey-gold color. Scattered marks are noted as expected for the grade.
Variety Equivalents: Adams-9, Breen 2-C, Miller-34, Bass-3062.
Obverse Die: The obverse die is used for BD-2 and BD-3.
Reverse Die: The reverse is found solely in this die pairing.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State d/c: Light clash marks are noted behind Liberty's hair and above the cap. The obverse is cracked through the bottoms of ERTY to the inner point of star 10. A crack from the border to the cap just misses the right bottom of the L. Another crack from the lower border crosses the field right of the date, into the border and faintly, toward Liberty's throat. No reverse clash marks are noted on this example that has a heavy die crack from the border through the second and third feathers of the right-facing (left) wing to the eagle's breast feathers and the shield.
PCGS Population Data (10/25): The seven 1799 Small Reverse Stars varieties include 18 that PCGS grades AU55 and 43 finer pieces.
Significant Examples: Our research suggests that the Jacobson Collection coin is the second finest of just four or five known, including one in the Smithsonian Institution.
Breen (1966): The Eliasberg coin, previously from the Clapp Collection, was the only example of this variety known to Breen.
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): "An unusual feature of this and the two previous 1799 varieties is that they use leftover 1798 reverses, Gardner's reverse with three visible claws [holding the arrows] that is immediately discerned from Scott's with one visible claw. Scot's Reverse of 1799 is used for all varieties dated 1800-1807. The difference in neck styles is apparent after study, but the number of claws is easily noticed on all but very low grade examples."
Heritage Commentary: There are several intriguing characteristics of the 1799 half eagles. The nine varieties are all scarce or rare. Dannreuther rates BD-1, 2, 5, and 6 as R.5; BD-7 and 8 as R.6; and BD-3, 4, and 9 as R.7. While just four obverse dies were used, the nine varieties used nine different reverse dies. This is just the third time that we have offered this variety in any auction sale since 1993.
Doug Winter Commentary: I'm pretty knowledgeable about early half eagles but even I get stumped from time to time about the nine different die varieties for 1799 half eagles. It's easiest to check the reverse stars first and then determine if they are small in size (BD-1 through BD-4, BD-6, BD-7 and BD-9) or large (BD-5, BD-8). The variety offered here (BD-3) is rare to very rare.
Provenance: Recorded below.

Roster of 1799 BD-3 Half Eagles
1. Unc Details, Damaged, PCGS. Harlan P. Smith Collection (S.H. and H. Chapman, 5/1906), lot 181; John H. Clapp; Clapp Estate (1942); Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; Eliasberg Estate (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 339; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection (Heritage, 9/2022), lot 11033.
2. AU55 PCGS. Charles Byers (9/13/1973); Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 729; later, purchased privately on June 16, 2011. The present specimen.
3. AU55 estimated grade. National Numismatic Collection; Smithsonian Institution.
4. AU Details, Plugged, PCGS. Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 9/2012), lot 4904; Dr. James A. Ferrendelli (Stack's Bowers, 8/2014), lot 11068.
5. AU Details, Smoothed, Uncertified. John A. Beck Collection (Abner Kreisberg, 2/1976), lot 347; Harry W. Bass, Jr. (Bowers and Merena, 11/2000), lot 297. Possibly the same as number 4.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.

Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 519875, Base PCGS# 8081)

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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