1812 $5 Wide 5D, BD-1, R.3, MS64 PCGS. CAC....

Description

1812 BD-1 Wide 5D Half Eagle
Superlative MS64 CAC
Just 13 Finer Certifications

1812 $5 Wide 5D, BD-1, R.3, MS64 PCGS. CAC. This is a luminous and nearly unblemished example of this coveted early gold type. Minor, mint-made adjustment marks are noted on the reverse border near 4 and 10 o'clock, and to the left of the horizontal shield lines. What appears, at first glance, to be abrasions within the shield and from the rim to wing at 2 o'clock are actually die scratches of mint origin. The strike is essentially full throughout the obverse, while the reverse strike shows only slight softness near the PL in PLURIBUS and the right border of the left (facing) wing.

Capped Bust Left half eagles are among the most elusive of all U.S. coins. These coins were struck at a time when the bullion content of U.S. gold and silver coins exceeded their face value, thus encouraging melting. While many coins of this type were forever lost due to this fate, the situation worsened in subsequent decades, making the next design (Capped Head Left) arguably the rarest gold type coin in U.S. numismatics. This situation continued until, after much debate, Congress remedied the problem by slightly reducing the gold content in quarter eagles and half eagles in 1834. The Capped Bust Left type is occasionally available at public auction, and sometimes even in high grades, such as this piece.

The 1812 date in particular contains two die marriages, which are easily differentiated by the Wide 5D and Narrow 5D denomination spacing. Among 1812 half eagles as a whole, which PCGS does not split out by design type in their four-digit numbering system, they have certified just 49 examples as MS64, with seven 64+ certifications and six in higher grades making up the sparse population in finer grades (9/25). Series specialists should not pass up the opportunity to obtain this superlative example of a rare design type.
Ex: Dallas Signature (Heritage, 12/2004), lot 6626; ANA Signature (Heritage, 4/2006), lot 1801; The Julian Collection / ANA Signature (Heritage, 8/2007), lot 1911.
From The Texas Republic Ranch Collection.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25PL, Variety PCGS# 507601, Base PCGS# 8112)

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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