LOT #1017 |
Current Bid: $2,400
1799 $5 Small Reverse Stars, BD-9, High R.7, XF40 PCGS....
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Description
1799 BD-9 Half Eagle, XF40
Small Reverse Stars
Only Two Pieces Confirmed
1799 $5 Small Reverse Stars, BD-9, High R.7, XF40 PCGS.
HBJ-217. Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection. The present
peach-gold BD-9 half eagle displays abundant luster for the XF40
grade, but the fields are lightly scuffed. The centers show
incompleteness of strike typical for the series.Variety Equivalents: Adams-5, Breen 4-I, Miller-40, Bass-3068.
Obverse Die: This is the third and final use of the obverse die that was previously used for BD-7 and BD-8.
Reverse Die: The reverse die was used for 1798 BD-6 prior to its appearance here.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State c/b: The obverse die is bisected from the border through the base and serif of the 7 to the bust of Liberty and the L. The reverse is cracked from the border to the clouds left of the O in OF, continuing between stars to the ribbon and base of the right-facing wing.
PCGS Population Data (10/25): The seven 1799 Small Reverse Stars varieties include three PCGS grades XF40 and 69 finer pieces. As always, the population data is skewed toward the common varieties. This Bass Collection coin is the lone example that PCGS has attributed as BD-9, further solidifying its rarity.
Significant Examples: We know of just two examples of this variety, and one of those, plated in Edgar Adams Coin Collector's Journal article of December 1934 is unlocated today. This example from the Bass and Jacobson Collections is the only example appearing in recent auction sales.
Breen (1966): Breen described this variety from the Adams plate coin that was held in the famous Stickney collection, noting that he had not personally seen an example of the variety.
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): "Harry Bass was able to obtain only a single example of this exceedingly rare variety. This is the third and final use of this obverse and second and final use of this reverse."
Heritage Commentary: Unless or until the Adams plate coin reappears in the numismatic marketplace, we believe that the 1799 BD-9 half eagle is the only example known today. John Dannreuther reports a single auction appearance of this variety between 1990 and 2005. That auction appearance was lot 1801 in the January 2001 Stack's sale of the Hain Collection. It was unplated and described as "Detail of Fine, but heavily polished and worn from extensive jewelry use. Holed and plugged above Liberty's cap."
Doug Winter Commentary: BD-9 appears to be the rarest of the nine different 1799 half eagle die combinations currently known. Would I rather have this semi-unique variety in my type set than a higher graded coin; say an AU58? Great question but I'm going to be on the side of rarity-especially when we are discussing a variety with possibly as few as two known.
Provenance: San Diego ANA Sale (Abe Kosoff, 8/1968), lot 935; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection; Bass Foundation/Central States Signature (Heritage, 5/2023), lot 4541.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.
Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 519884, Base PCGS# 8081, Greysheet# 198187)
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
12h 50m 4s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 8
Lot Tracking Activity: 35
Page Views: 238
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.]
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Additional Location Info:
Orange County Convention Center
North/South Building
9400 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819
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