1820 $5 Square Base 2, Large Letters, BD-4, R.8, MS63+ PCGS....

Description

1820 BD-4 Half Eagle, MS63+
Possibly the Finest of Two Known
From the Bass Core Collection

1820 $5 Square Base 2, Large Letters, BD-4, R.8, MS63+ PCGS. HBJ-254. Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection. This Plus-graded Select example exhibits sharply detailed design elements, with some crumbling of the dentils on the reverse from 9-12 o' clock. The pleasing antique-gold surfaces radiate vibrant mint luster and show only minor signs of contact. Overall eye appeal is outstanding.
Variety Equivalents: Adams-unlisted, Breen unlisted (10-C), Miller-131, Bass-3135.
Obverse Die: The obverse die is found on BD-3 and BD-4.
Reverse Die: The reverse die appears in multiple variants, including 1820 BD-4, 1820 BD-5, 1820 BD-7, 1825 BD-3, and 1826 BD-1.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State c/b: Lapping has removed most of the clashing within RT and behind the hair opposite star 12 from the previous use of this obverse die. Evidence of die rust is apparent above the cap, between stars 6 and 7, and between the cap and star 11.
PCGS Population Data (10/25): The PCGS Square Base 2 population includes 16 graded MS63, three graded MS63+, and four certified in higher grades.
Significant Examples: While we know of just two surviving examples from this die marriage, there is always the possibility that additional examples might surface in the future. However, our study of hundreds of auction appearances of 1820 half eagles has failed to turn up other examples. We reviewed 146 appearances of 1820 Square Base 2 half eagles including just six instances of the BD-4 die combination. The others included three auction appearances of BD-1, 67 appearances of BD-2, and 70 appearances of BD-3. Equally important to rarity is opportunity. With just six appearances of BD-4 between 1936 and 2024, the opportunity to acquire an example is a key to collecting.
Breen (1966): Breen wrote about the challenges attributing 1820 half eagles in the 1960s: "There are curl-based 2's and flat-based 2's, and the reverses come with large and small letters, but confusion has come about because the letter sizes are very difficult to tell apart without direct comparison of the coins, and these days who has a quantity of 1820's for such comparison?"
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): "Waldo Newcomer owned six of the nine confirmed varieties of 1820; this is one he never obtained. As previously noted, Harry Bass undoubtedly is the only collector who intentionally or unintentionally completed the variety set for this year."
Heritage Commentary: Harry W. Bass, Jr. recorded detailed notes about all the early gold coins in his collection, and John W. Dannreuther utilized those notes to create the Bass-Dannreuther reference: Early U.S. Gold Coin Varieties, A Study of Die States, 1795-1834. Published in 2006, the Bass-Dannreuther reference is standard for today's collectors.
Doug Winter Commentary: A little busy in the lower left obverse field but otherwise, a very strong coin for the grade with blazing luster under even deep yellow-gold color. This coin will almost certainly sell to a date or a type collector but it is an especially rare die variety and it's likely the finest of only two currently traced.
Provenance: Alto Collection (Stack's, 12/1970), lot 135; Harry W. Bass, Jr.; Harry Bass Core Collection (Heritage, 9/2022), lot 11051.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.

Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 519923, Base PCGS# 8125, Greysheet# 198954)

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.

View all of [The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early U.S. Half Eagles ]

View Certification Details from PCGS