1810 $5 Small Date, Tall 5 MS64 NGC....

Description

1810 Capped Bust Left Half Eagle, MS64
Small Date, Tall 5 Variety, BD-1
Only One Example Certified Finer

1810 $5 Small Date, Tall 5 MS64 NGC. Breen-6462, BD-1, High R.3. A substantial total of 100,287 Capped Bust Left half eagles was minted in 1810, with four major die varieties known for the date. The coin offered here is an example of the BD-1 variety, identified by the small 1 in the date nearly centered over a denticle, and the tall 5 in the denomination, with the flag to the left of the lowest feather tip. The BD-1 variety is the second most available of the four die marriages, but it is much more difficult to locate than the BD-4. Experts estimate an initial mintage of 20,000 to 30,000 pieces for the BD-1, with a surviving population of 150-225 examples in all grades. The issue is very rare at the near-Gem level, as NGC has certified only four specimens in MS64, with none finer; while PCGS has graded five examples at the Choice level, with one finer (11/09).
The half eagles of 1810 were avidly collected by early numismatists, who began to differentiate between the Large Date and Small Date varieties of the issue at a relatively early date. However, it was not until the twentieth century that all four subtypes became known. In the famous ANS Exhibition of 1914 William Woodin displayed and identified both Small Date varieties (BD-1 and BD-2), as well as the Large Date, Large 5 variety (BD-4). The Large Date, Small 5 variety (BD-3) is extremely rare, and was not known to early specialists, such as Edgar Adams and John H. Clapp. The discovery coin may have been the example in the Frederic W. Geiss Collection (B. Max Mehl, 2/1947), lot 1676. Mehl identified the coin as, "1810 Large date with small 5D." However, Mehl did not seem to realize he had identified a previously unknown variety. Knowledge of all four varieties did not become widespread until Walter Breen published his monographs in the 1960s.
The present coin is a virtually unimprovable specimen, with sharp striking details and nice, frosted luster. The natural green-gold surfaces have taken on an attractive overlay of yellow. A few light field marks limit the grade.(Registry values: P3)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# BFXM, PCGS# 8106, GSID# 8812)

Metal: 91.67% Gold, 8.33% Copper
Weight: 8.75 grams
AGW: 0.25789oz
Mintage: 100,287

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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