1807 $5 Bust Left MS62 NGC....

Description

1807 Capped Bust Left Half Eagle, BD-8, MS62
First Year of Reich's Design

1807 $5 Bust Left MS62 NGC. Breen-6453, BD-8, R.2. John Reich's Capped Bust Left design was introduced on the half eagle coinage in mid-1807. Eight die varieties are known for the year, but only two of them, BD-7 and BD-8, are from the new design. The present coin is a representative of the more available BD-8 variety, with an estimated surviving population of 500-750 pieces. BD-8 is recognized from the position of the bottom arrow feather pointing to the tip of the 5 in the denomination, and the O in OF located above the N in UNUM. Examples in Mint State grades are scarce today.
Early catalogers were careful to distinguish between the two design types seen on 1807 half eagles, calling the old Capped Bust Right design the Head of 1806, and Reich's new Capped Bust Left design the Head of 1808. In the Fifth Semi-Annual Sale (Woodward, 10/1864), both designs were described as:

"1637 1807 Head of 1806; remarkably fine, scarce.
"1638 1807 Head of 1808; uncirculated, brilliant."

Both lots realized $11.50, a good price in the 1860s.
The present coin is sharply defined in all areas. The surfaces are lustrous, with an attractive olive-tinged color. One mentionable mark is in the upper reverse field, between the scroll and eagle's head, and there is some shallow pinscratching in the left obverse field that accounts for the grade. Census: 58 in 62, 63 finer (10/09).(Registry values: P2)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# CKLH, PCGS# 8101, GSID# 8809)

Metal: 91.67% Gold, 8.33% Copper
Weight: 8.75 grams
AGW: 0.25789oz
Mintage: 51,605

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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