LOT #1030 |
Current Bid: $4,000
1805 $5 BD-4, High R.7, AU58 PCGS. Obverse Die State d....
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Description
1805 BD-4 Half Eagle, AU58
Shattered Obverse Die
1805 $5 BD-4, High R.7, AU58 PCGS. Obverse Die State d.
HBJ-230. The die state notation is included on the PCGS
label. This brilliant yellow-gold example features reflective
fields and hints of rose toning on the obverse.Variety Equivalents: Adams unlisted, Breen uncertain, Miller unlisted, Bass-3090.
Obverse Die: This is the only appearance of the obverse die.
Reverse Die: The reverse die was used for four of the five 1805 die pairs, BD-2, BD-3, BD-4, and BD-5, remaining in use for 1806 BD-1.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State d/e: The shattered obverse die has multiple die cracks as explained in the Bass-Dannreuther book. The reverse is cracked and clashed. A narrow rim break joins several dentils over and right of the final S in STATES.
PCGS Population Data (10/25): This example from the Eliasberg and Bass Collections is one of just two PCGS submissions attributed as BD-4, and both are included in the present sale of the Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection.
Significant Examples: This example is the third finest of five known to us as recorded in our roster for the first 1805 BD-4.
Breen (1966): When Walter Breen was writing his various references, he often relied on his notes combined with earlier catalog descriptions, some plated and others unplated. His variety 1-A is apparently the variety known today as BD-5. However, he attached a detailed description of the die cracks on this BD-4 half eagle to his 1-A description.
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): John Dannreuther discussed this specific coin in his Bass-Dannreuther study: "Breen misidentified this variety, as one of the Bass coins was from the Eliasberg collection, earlier from Elmer S. Sears. This coin was bought by Bass in the Bowers and Ruddy 1982 Eliasberg gold sale, Lot 351. There, it was identified as Breen 1-A, which is now believed to be the following variety - BD-5. Lot 351 from Eliasberg was this variety and it sold as Lot 762 in Bass II."
Heritage Commentary: When Robert W. Miller, Sr. published his early half eagle reference, he relied on descriptions of previous observers and described seven 1805 half eagle varieties, illustrating four of those varieties: Miller 68 is BD-5, Miller 69 is BD-3, Miller 70 is probably BD-3, Miller 71 is BD-2, Miller 72 is probably BD-1, Miller 73 is BD-1, Miller 74 is BD-2. There is no Miller variety that matches the present BD-4 die marriage.
Doug Winter Commentary: When I look at this coin, I'm reminded of the Rolling Stones 1977 song "Shattered." This has got to be the latest known die state for 1805 BD-4 and I would be surprised if the dies didn't collapse in a heap after this coin was made. Pretty decent pedigree as well...
Provenance: Elmer S. Sears (1924); John H. Clapp; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr.; Eliasberg Estate (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 351; Harry W. Bass, Jr. (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 762; later, Purchased privately on August 5, 2009.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.
Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 45618, Base PCGS# 8088, Greysheet# 198211)
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
20h 52m 39s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 10
Lot Tracking Activity: 19
Page Views: 137
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
22% of the successful bid (minimum $29) per lot.
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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