1825 $5 5 Over Partial 4, BD-3, R.8, MS61 NGC....

Description

1825/4/1 Half Eagle, BD-3, MS61
Discovery Coin for the Variety
Probably Unique, Ex: Byron Reed

1825 $5 5 Over Partial 4, BD-3, R.8, MS61 NGC. HBJ-259. Ex: Reed. This delightful MS61 specimen displays a blend of yellow-gold and apricot-gold color with decent luster. A powerful strike manifests itself in sharp definition on design elements that are well brought up and well-centered on the planchet. The surfaces exhibit prooflike tendencies, especially when the piece is rotated under a light source. Wispy hairlines are noted in the reverse fields.
Variety Equivalents: None.
Obverse Die: This is the same obverse die used for 1825 BD-1.
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: There is no die state data for this variety that was unknown when the Bass-Dannreuther book was published. There is no evidence of die clashing or other die state evidence on the obverse. The reverse has a delicate die crack from the base of the T in UNITED toward the wing. This crack is recorded at 1820 BD-7 for state d of the reverse.
NGC Census Data (10/25): While the data is unnecessary for a unique variety, all 1825 half eagles include four certified as MS61 and one finer example.
Significant Examples: This is the only example known to us with the provenance recorded below.
Breen (1966): Breen was unaware of this combination of known obverse and reverse dies and overlooked the Cleneay-Reed provenance when he itemized 1825 half eagles in his monograph.
Bass-Dannreuther (2006): None as the variety was unrecognized in 2006 when the Bass-Dannreuther book was published.
Heritage Commentary: The familiar BD-1 and BD-2 overdate varieties have different obverse dies, but share a common reverse, with the BD-2 in a later die state. The newly discovered BD-3 variety shares the same obverse die with the BD-1, but the reverse die shows the middle arrow pointing to the center of R in AMERICA, while the BD-1 reverse has this arrow pointing to the right foot of the R. The BD-3 reverse was used previously to coin the 1820 BD-4, BD-5, and BD-7 varieties, and used again to strike the 1826 BD-1 variety. Researchers, including John Dannreuther, have noted how strange it was that the Mint apparently did not use this reverse die in coining the fairly large emission of half eagles in 1825, since the use of serviceable reverse dies from one year to the next was common practice in the early 19th century. The discovery of this coin confirms that the Mint actually did follow this accepted practice, for at least a limited production run that year.
Doug Winter Commentary: I'm going out on a limb and guessing that this probably unique variety is among Harvey's favorite coins in this set. With a pedigree dating back to 1890, this coin is both exceptional from a numismatic and aesthetic standpoint.
Provenance: Thomas Cleneay (S.H. and H. Chapman, 12/1890), lot 571; Byron Reed; Omaha City Library/Durham Western Heritage Museum; Byron Reed Collection (Christie's-Spink America, 10/1996), lot 114; Pre-Long Beach Sale (Superior, 5/2001), lot 4046; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2007), lot 3538; Donald E. Bently and the Bently Foundation/FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2014), lot 5431.
From The Harvey B. Jacobson, Jr. Collection of Early Half Eagles.

Coin Index Numbers: (Variety PCGS# 519959, Base PCGS# 8133)

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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