1812 $5 Wide 5D, BD-1, R.3, MS66 PCGS....

Description

1812 Half Eagle, Vibrant and Frosted MS66
BD-1, Wide 5-D, Double Struck
Final Year Draped Bust To Left Type

1812 $5 Wide 5D, BD-1, R.3, MS66 PCGS. Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection. Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/a. The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection includes a remarkable Premium Gem BD-1 half eagle. This coin is struck from an early die state, although at first glance a later die state might be suspected. Close examination reveals the dies are not clashed, lapped, or cracked; rather, the coin is in fact double struck. It is a fascinating Mint error -- seldom seen for the type -- although the initial strike is somewhat obscured by the strong second strike. Anomalies appear along the rims as the ghostly remnants of an underlying initial strike are seen on each side. Adding to the intrigue is the realization that the first strike was off-center by about 15%, followed by a rotated second strike when the flan was subsequently fed into the coining press for its second impression.

The 1812 five dollar gold pieces represent the final year of the John Reich's Draped Bust half eagle design, offering two varieties defined by either the Wide 5D or Close 5D denomination. The BD-1 coins have an inexplicably wide gap between 5 and D, while the BD-2 pieces display the 5 and D normally spaced. The Wide 5D examples are by far the more available variety. The Bass double struck coin ranks a close second to the former Pogue Collection example on the BD-1 Condition Census. The coin is vibrantly lustrous and frosted throughout both sides, illuminating radiant green-gold color with olive overtones and wisps of orange within the eagle's shield. A lengthy raised die defect spans the eagle's wings left-to-right, curving across the horizontal shield lines and exiting the coin just left of the first A in AMERICA. The defect appears prior to any die clashing and seems to fade on later die states.

A Roster of Significant Examples (Provided by Ron Guth).
1. MS66+ PCGS. Norman Stack Type Set, purchased before 1986; Stack's, sold privately; Eric Streiner; Mark Yaffe and Kenneth Goldman; "From an old-time Eastern collection" (Superior, 8/1991), lot 711, not sold; Jay Parrino, sold privately circa 1994; Hanks and Associates; Great Lakes Collection, sold privately in 6/2001; Hanks and Associates; D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part III (Stack's Bowers & Sotheby's, 2/2016), lot 3143, $158,625.
2. MS66 PCGS. A-Mark Coin Co., sold privately on 3/16/1978; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection (HBCC# 3124); Harry Bass Core Collection, Part III (Heritage, 5/2023), lot 4556, where it sold for $111,000; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2024), lot 4338. Double struck, first strike off-center. The present coin.
3. MS65+ PCGS. FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2008), lot 3154, $161,000; Joan Zieg Steinbrenner Collection (Heritage, 8/2019), lot 3869, $102,000.
4. MS65+ PCGS. ANA Sale (Stack's Bowers, 8/2019), lot 5326, $90,000; D.L. Hansen Collection (PCGS Set Registry).
5. MS65 PCGS. Boston Rarities (Bowers and Merena, 8/2010), lot 1645, $97,750; Castle Pines Collection (Stack's Bowers, 8/2021), lot 4206, $96,000.
6. MS65 PCGS. Prior provenance unknown.
7. MS65 NGC. Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 9/2003), lot 7918, $19,550; Pre-Long Beach (Goldberg Auctions, 9/2009), lot 3369, $69,000.
8. MS65 NGC. Nathan M. Kaufman Collection (RARCOA, 8/1978), lot 802; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part III (Bowers and Merena, 5/2000), lot 312, $19,550; Rarities Sale (Bowers and Merena, 7/2002), lot 780, $35,650; Freedom Collection (Heritage, 1/2007), lot 3525, $63,250; Pre-Long Beach (Goldberg Auctions, 9/2009), lot 3370, not sold; Pre-Long Beach (Goldberg Auctions, 5/2010), lot 1565, $71,875; Chicago Signature (Heritage, 8/2011), lot 7537, $74,750.
9. MS65 NGC. FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2010), lot 2170, $74,750.
10. MS65 Uncertified. "Taylor" (unidentified source); W. Elliot Woodward, sold privately on 2/28/1880; T. Harrison Garrett Collection; Robert Garrett Collection; John Work Garrett Collection; Johns Hopkins University Collection, Part I (Bowers and Ruddy, 11/1979), lot 457, $20,000.

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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