LOT #1031 |
Current Bid: $1,050
1805 $5 BD-5, R.7, AU58 PCGS. CAC....
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Description
1805 BD-5 Half Eagle, AU58
From the 1999 Bass Auction
CAC Approved
1805 $5 BD-5, R.7, AU58 PCGS. CAC. HBJ-231. Ex: HW
Bass, Jr. Coll. The reflective obverse displays lovely honey-gold
luster with splashes of rich orange on the high points. The reverse
is frosty with weak central devices that are typical of the few
known examples. The 1805 BD-5 half eagle is the second rarest
variety following BD-4.Variety Equivalents: Adams-5, Breen 1-A, Miller-68, Bass-3094.
Obverse Die: This is the only use 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 b/e: The obverse is cracked through the outer points of all stars on the left into the field over the cap with a crack through the tops of LIBERTY and the outer points of the right-hand stars. The reverse has a rim break connecting several dentils over the final S in STATES.
PCGS Population Data (10/25): For all 1805 varieties, PCGS has examined 42 1805 half eagles graded AU58 and 162 finer examples.
CAC Census (10/25): For all varieties, CAC has approved 17 1805 half eagles in AU58 and 58 finer examples.
Significant Examples: With a total population of just three coins, per our research, this lot closes out the list.
Breen (1966): Breen's description of the variety he calls 1-A begins noting that the lower left star nearly touches the curl. BD-5 is the only variety known today that qualifies.
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): "Bass owned two examples of this exceedingly rare variety. It is debatable whether this or the previous variety (BD-4) is the rarer issue, but whether a coin has three, four, or five known survivors, having multiple examples is unusual."
Heritage Commentary: Our rosters of 1805 BD-4 and BD-5 half eagles record eight individual examples of the two die marriages, and the present auction of Harvey Jacobson's half eagles includes five of those eight coins. While a few additional examples may be awaiting discovery, it is doubtful that the two varieties combined will break the R.7 barrier.
Doug Winter Commentary: Here is evidence that this is a truly meaningful specialized collection. There are not one but two nice examples of the very rare 1805 BD-5. This likely represents one-quarter of the total known examples and while it's not as impressive as, say, the presence of multiple 1797 half eagles, it's a worthy feat nonetheless.
Provenance: Recorded below.
Roster of Significant Examples
1. MS62 PCGS. Purchased from A-Mark Coin Co. (3/16/1978); Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection (Heritage, 9/2022), lot 11041.
2. MS62 NGC. Gilhousen Collection (Superior, 2/1973), lot 340; Stack's (3/2004), lot 776; Heritage Internet (11/2004), lot 24032; Heritage Internet (12/2004), lot 23463; Goldberg Auctions (9/2006), lot 1920. Offered in the next lot.
3. AU58 PCGS. CAC. John A. Beck (Abner Kreisberg, 1/1975), lot 355; Harry W. Bass, Jr. (Bowers and Merena, 10/1999), lot 763; Stack's Bowers (8/2022), lot 7153. The present specimen.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.
Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 45619, Base PCGS# 8088, Greysheet# 198212)
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
10 Days
20h 5m 21s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 10
Lot Tracking Activity: 45
Page Views: 330
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.]
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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