LOT #1033 |
Current Bid: $5,250
1806 $5 Pointed 6, 8x5 Stars, BD-3, R.7, MS61 NGC. CAC....
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Description
1806 BD-3 Half Eagle, MS61
CAC Approved
Pointed 6 Rarity
1806 $5 Pointed 6, 8x5 Stars, BD-3, R.7, MS61 NGC. CAC.
HBJ-233. This lovely Mint State example should be described
as prooflike but was certified at an early date before NGC
recognized such coins. The brilliant yellow surfaces have fully
mirrored fields and lustrous devices. Diagonal adjustment marks
slant down to the left across the center of the bust.Variety Equivalents: Adams-2, Breen unlisted (2-C), Miller-80, Bass-3098.
Obverse Die: This is the only use of the obverse die.
Reverse Die: This is the only use of the reverse die.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State c/a: The obverse has several faint die cracks joining the left and right-side stars with a delicate crack confined to the cap. The reverse is described as perfect (Dannreuther) but shows a faint die crack through the left upright of the U and the tops of ITE.
NGC Census Data (10/25): For the five 1806 Pointed 6 varieties, NGC has graded 12 in MS61 and 22 numerically finer submissions. That service has also graded 22 submissions of 1806 half eagles with no specified type graded MS61, and 84 finer pieces. Most of those are likely Round Top 6 varieties (BD-6).
CAC Census (10/25): The CAC population data records two approvals of 1806 Pointed 6 half eagles in MS61 and seven finer submissions for all five varieties.
Significant Examples: This is likely one of the finer known examples of the rare 1806 BD-3 half eagle. Our roster includes three Mint State examples including the MS62 Bass Core Collection coin that we handled in 2022, the MS62 Hutchinson Collection piece that we sold in 2017, and the present example from the Norweb Collection. We know of nine other examples.
Breen (1966): The Pointed 6 obverse dies have eight stars to the left and six right, while the BD-6 Knobbed 6 has seven stars left and six right.
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): "Miller thought this variety was unique, but Harry Bass owned three examples! There are likely only a few other examples of this super rarity out there, but Breen did not even list this variety in his monograph on half eagles. However, Adams and Newcomer both recorded this very rare die variety."
Heritage Commentary: Researching the 1806 Pointed 6 half eagle varieties is difficult as past auction descriptions, especially those from before 2006 when the Bass-Dannreuther book was published, were inconsistent in their attribution. Walter Breen's 1966 monograph was imprecise in his variety descriptions, and other authors and catalogers added to his lack of precision. Five 1806 Pointed 6 varieties are known today. Breen described six varieties in 1966 and suggested a seventh in his New Varieties update. Robert Miller cataloged nine varieties of 1806 Pointed 6 half eagles. Andrew W. Pollock, III limited his variety research to five 1806 Pointed 6 varieties. Pollock's research was never published but is available today on the Newman Numismatic Portal.
Doug Winter Commentary: Confession: I LOVE 1806 Pointed 6 half eagles. You can spot one from a mile away due to the distinctive sunken appearance of the obverse. There are no less than five different varieties, two of which are quite rare: BD-3 and BD-5. It should be pointed out that the 1806 Pointed 6 is extremely unusual to locate with prooflike surfaces.
Provenance: Recorded below.
Roster of 1806 BD-3 Half Eagles
1. MS62 PCGS. David S. Wilson Collection (S.H. Chapman, 3/1907), lot 52; John Zug; later possibly King Farouk; Palace Collections of Egypt (Sotheby's, 2/1954), part of lot 231; Gaston DiBello Collection, Part II (Stack's, 5/1970), lot 811; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection (Heritage, 9/2022), lot 11043, $24,000.
2. MS62 PCGS. CAC. Hutchinson Collection (Heritage, 4/2017), lot 4236, $35,250.
3. MS61 NGC. CAC. Purchased from "Kendrick" on September 16, 1909 by Albert Fairchild Holden; Emery May Holden Norweb; Norweb Collection, Part I (Bowers and Merena, 10/1987), lot 753; later, Harvey B. Jacobson Collection, purchased privately on November 15, 2012. The present specimen.
4. AU58 PCGS. CAC. Hutchinson Collection (Heritage, 1/2017), lot 5857, $19,975.
5. AU58 PCGS. John A. Beck Collection, Part I (Quality Sales Corporation, 1/1975), lot 357; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection (Heritage, 8/2023), lot 9042, $19,200.
6. AU55 PCGS. CAC. Boys Town and Mamiye Collections (Bowers and Merena, 3/1998), lot 2152; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection (Heritage, 9/2022), lot 11042, $20,400. One of Harry Bass's last purchases just one month before his death on April 4, 1998.
7. AU53 PCGS. Bowers and Merena (12/2003), lot 2548. Offered in the next lot.
8. AU50 PCGS. Heritage (6/2006), lot 3265, $7,475; Philadelphia ANA (Stack's Bowers, 8/2012), lot 11685, $12,925. Stack's Bowers cataloged this piece as triple struck. There was no mention of multiple striking in the Heritage description, nor on the PCGS holder.
9. AU58 Cleaned ICG. Americana Sale (Stack's Bowers, 9/2011), lot 5924, $3,737.
10. Unc Details Altered Surfaces PCGS. Chicago ANA (Stack's Bowers, 8/2014), lot 4342, unsold; Internet Auction 3496 (Stack's Bowers, 8/2014), lot 21009.
11. AU Plugged PCGS. Heritage (2/2023), lot 27553, $3,600.
12. AU Ex Jewelry. Bowers and Merena (3/2002), lot 216.
Additional Appearances
Mint State. Christie's (12/1981), lot 159. The catalog is currently unavailable.
Grade Uncertain. Waldo Newcomer Collection; "Col." E.H.R. Green; variety identified from the Newcomer plates but not definitively matched to any other specimen.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25P7, Variety PCGS# 45623, Base PCGS# 8090, Greysheet# 198215)
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
14 Days
21h 17m 23s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 18
Lot Tracking Activity: 43
Page Views: 231
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.]
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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