1821 $5 BD-2, High R.7, AU53 PCGS....

Description

1821 BD-2 Half Eagle, AU53
Just Two Examples Known
Historic Provenance; Missing From Bass

1821 $5 BD-2, High R.7, AU53 PCGS. HBJ-257. Ex: Eliasberg-Col. Green. This piece has deep yellow color with considerable reddish-violet toning on both sides. Although noticeably abraded, enough luster is present to provide a high degree of aesthetic appeal.
Variety Equivalents: Adams-2, Breen 2-A, Miller-142, Bass missing.
Obverse Die: This is the only use of the obverse die.
Reverse Die: This reverse die is found in six die marriages: 1820 BD-9, 1821 BD-1, 1821 BD-2, 1822 BD-1, 1823 BD-1, and 1824 BD-1.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/a: Both dies are perfect with no indication of clash marks, die cracks, or lapping.
PCGS Population Data (10/25): The PCGS Population Report illustrates the rarity of 1821 half eagles with a total population of 13 coins in all grades.
Significant Examples: The two known examples of 1821 BD-2 half eagles:

1. MS61 NGC. James Lawson before 1880; Lawson Estate; Mrs. Mabel R. Sandford; Buffalo ANA Convention (Numismatic Gallery, 8/1947), lot 429; possibly I.E. Chadwick (Numismatic Gallery, 5/1952), lot 604; Thomas Melish (Numismatic Gallery, 4/1956), lot 1947; J.F. Bell Collection (RARCOA, 4/1963), lot 599; 10th Anniversary Auction (Kreisberg-Schulman, 4/1967), lot 771; Davies/Niewoehner Collections (Paramount, 6/1975), lot 555; Arnold and Romisa Collections (Bowers and Merena, 9/1984), lot 127; Auction '85 (RARCOA, 7/1985), lot 435; Charles Kramer (Stack's/Superior, 12/1988), lot 323; Auction '89 (Superior, 7/1989), lot 888; Michael Keston (Superior, 1/1996), lot 112; Rogers; Pre-Long Beach Sale (Superior, 5/2001), lot 4043; Hanks and Associates. The Akers plate coin.
2. AU53 PCGS. George H. Earle, Jr. (Henry Chapman, 6/1912), lot 2391; Davis (Thomas Elder, 4/1920), lot 623; Gehring (Thomas Elder 8/1921), lot 64; Waldo Newcomer (pictured on the Newcomer plates); Col. E.H.R. Green; Flanagan (Stack's, 3/1944), lot 1097; J.F. Bell (Stack's, 12/1944), lot 343; H.R. Lee Sale (Stack's 10/1947), lot 1240; Eliasberg-Evans (New Netherlands, 6/1957), lot 378; Collector's Portfolio (Kreisberg, 10/1978), lot 1114; unknown intermediaries; Baltimore ANA Convention (Heritage, 7/2008), lot 1954; Central States Signature (Heritage, 4/2014), lot 5727; Purchased privately on October 15, 2018. The present specimen.

Breen (1966): "For long only one obverse and one reverse were believed known. Finding, only during this writing, that there seemed to be differences in placement of numerals on some specimens, I had to re-examine all the illustrations of 1821 half eagles in the catalogues available to me. I found, to my surprise, that there are three obverse dies. The differences are minute but definitely there; in no illustration was the die identity in doubt."
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): "This is a variety that Bass did not acquire. This very rare variety is represented by so few coins that Breen and Miller felt there were two different obverses. The Michael Keston sale by Superior in January 1996, Lot 112, is an example of Breen 2-A. All other examples recorded as Breen variety 1-A match the dies for 2-A. Unless an example with an obviously different obverse appears, these two Breen and Miller varieties will be combined."
Heritage Commentary: Breen cites lot 378 of the 49th New Netherlands sale as his variety 1-A. The plate from the catalog matches his details of obverse 1 and obverse 2. Similarly, he cites lot 429 in the 1947 ANA sale as his variety 2-A, and the plate of that coin also matches both obverse die descriptions. We agree with John Dannreuther that Breen 1-A and Breen 2-A represent a single die marriage.
Doug Winter Commentary: With so many rarities struck between 1815 and 1829, there are bound to be a few issues that fall through the cracks. With just 15-18+ known this has all the makings of a Classic Rarity but it tends to be overshadowed by the slightly more available 1824. This fabulously pedigreed example will be among the more "affordable" 1821 half eagles offered for sale in the coming years and it has the added benefit of being a semi-unique die variety.
Provenance:Recorded above.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.

Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 519930, Base PCGS# 8129, Greysheet# 198961)

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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