1808/7 $5 Wide Date, BD-1, R.6, MS61 NGC....

Description

1808/7 BD-1 Half Eagle, MS61
R.6 Variety; Rarest of the Year
Likely Tied for Third Finest

1808/7 $5 Wide Date, BD-1, R.6, MS61 NGC. Bass-Dannreuther Die State c/c. Deep orange-gold surfaces create a wonderful patina that is also free of troublesome abrasions. Striking weakness is uniformly insignificant, relegated to some central star details on the left and a few feathers on the eagle's neck.

Four die marriages comprise two types for 1808 half eagles: the 1808/7 overdates (BD-1 and BD-2) and the normal dates (BD-3 and BD-4). The present overdate type is far rarer, with an estimate of 100 to 130 examples known, as per Bass-Dannreuther, compared to 175 to 350 for the normal date. Furthermore, the distribution of 1808/7 examples between the two die marriages is very lopsided: 20 to 30 for BD-1, and 80 to 100 for BD-2. The present example is a representative from the very rare (R.6) BD-1 die marriage. It also displays all of the die cracks that are responsible for this die marriage's short life, being a representative of the terminal die state.

It is also one of the finest examples of this die marriage. The probable finest known is the MS64 PCGS Bass example, sold by us in that sale in 2023 and again in 2026. Our and Stacks Bowers' archives reveal three MS62 examples tied for second finest and three other MS61 examples tied with the present offering for third finest. Certification data suggests that fewer overdated examples from BD-2 equal or exceed the present offering, with NGC listing 14 in 61 and 6 finer for the type overall, and PCGS documenting 7 in 61 and 9 finer among all overdated examples (1/26). Given all of these factors, specialists should seize the opportunity for this choice example of a rare variety.
From The Charles Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25PB, Variety PCGS# 45636, Base PCGS# 8103, Greysheet# 197941)

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.

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