1813 $5 MS64 NGC....

Description

Attractive, Lustrous MS64 1813 Half Eagle, BD-1

1813 $5 MS64 NGC. BD-1, R.2. The first S in STATES is over the right side of the E in the motto. The 1813 half eagle is the first year of a new type and, like most-first-year issues, it appears to have been saved for posterity by collectors and noncollectors alike. In Guide Book terminology, this is the Capped Head to Left, Large Diameter, Bold Relief type (or subtype, since the Bold Relief subtype only lasted through 1815).
Although this type showed considerably increased mintages from the previous Capped Bust to Left half eagles of 1807-1812, the Capped Head to Left half eagles were also much more hoarded and melted than the previous type, as John Dannreuther points out in his indispensable Early U.S. Gold Coin Varieties. Most survivors of the later type are in the higher circulated grades or Uncirculated, whereas the earlier coins often show considerable wear. Dannreuther says, "Because there were relatively few gold coins in circulation stateside from 1812 onward, and none were seen after 1821 until the introduction of the lighter gold coins after July 21, 1834, this is expected. As mentioned, this type is many times rarer than those coins of 1812 and prior. Those coins of 1813 are the only available date of this type, those of 1814 through 1820 are scarce to ultra rare, while those of 1821 through 1829 are almost all rare or exceedingly rare. Those coins used in international commerce for goods and services were mostly melted. Only those few coins hoarded domestically and not melted after the weight change in 1834 are the examples we have to collect today, plus the few coins plucked from foreign sources."
We accordingly have an interesting situation in the present 1813 half eagle, as a high-grade (near-Gem) example one of the most available issues in one of the most difficult and elusive of all U.S. coin series; in other words, the quintessential type coin. The BD-1 is also the only readily available variety for the type. This coin offers brilliant luster emanating from the greenish-gold surfaces, which are remarkably attractive and distraction-free. A couple of minuscule ticks appear in the lower right obverse field, and both sides show some old clash marks, but the overall appearance is strictly in concordance with the near-Gem grade. This coin is almost certainly destined to fill some long-empty hole in a high-grade 19th century type set.
(Registry values: P2)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25PM, PCGS# 8116, GSID# 8818)

Metal: 91.67% Gold, 8.33% Copper
Weight: 8.75 grams
AGW: 0.25789oz
Mintage: 95,428

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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