1829 Large Diameter, Large Date, BD-1, R.7, MS66 NGC....

"Coinage operations had long outgrown the old First United States Mint building by 1829, and the cornerstone for a more spacious and impressive facility, at Chestnut and Juniper Streets in Philadelphia, was laid on July 4, 1829. It would require several years to complete construction and transfer personnel and equipment from the old building at 7th and Filbert to the new location, but change was definitely in the air throughout this exciting period and new technology was the order of the day. Many numismatists have commented on the improved appearance of U.S. coinage in the 1827-1833 time period, particularly on gold proofs. In an article in the December 2015 edition of the John Reich Journal, volume 25, issue 3, Craig Sholley attributes much of this improvement to the installation of the heavy Rush & Muhlenberg five-man screw press, late in the year in 1827. This press was designed primarily for hubbing dies, using a slow, even squeeze to impress the design from the hub into the surface of the die, rather than the fast-impact strike of the regular coin press. The action of the Rush & Muhlenberg press was too slow for high-speed coinage, but it was ideal for striking sharply detailed proofs, medals, and patterns, with raised, squared-off rims. Accordingly, the Mint used these heavy screw presses to strike medals and proofs long after the introduction of steam-powered coin presses for regular coinage operations in 1836. The screw presses were only retired in 1893, when the advent of modern hydraulic presses finally made them obsolete.'

"Another technological innovation, the Close Collar, was introduced on the half eagle in 1829 and had an even more dramatic effect on coinage. The introduction of the revolutionary close collar technology in 1829 resulted in two distinct design types for the year, the old Large Diameter, Large Date, BD-1 variety, like the present coin, and the new Reduced Diameter, Small Date, BD-2 variety. The planchets were not restricted by the old Open Collar when striking the Large Diameter issue, resulting in coins that were often not precisely centered, with slightly irregular cigar-shaped dentils that extended to the edge of the coin. The old, large set of punches was used on the date and lettering of the BD-1 coins, as well. John Dannreuther notes that the BD-1 employed a different punch for the 2 in the date than any other Large Diameter half eagle of the 1820s, with a ball instead of a curly top. The BD-2 coins, struck later in the year, were held tightly by the collar, which did not allow the planchets to move or expand during striking, keeping the coins perfectly centered and imparting a reeded edge in the process. The BD-2 coins had uniform diameters, with beaded dentils and a raised rim around the perimeter. Chief Engraver William Kneass modified the design, altering the bust slightly, to the "Fat Head" motif, and using smaller punches for the date, to fit the smaller diameter. On the reverse, the lower leaves in the branch virtually touch the dentils. Since the coins contained the same amount of gold as the Large Diameter pieces, the BD-2 half eagles are somewhat thicker than their BD-1 counterparts."

Striking the Coins

March 31 - 7,781 pieces
May 1 - 5,584 pieces
June 30 - 12,010 pieces
September 8 - 7,960 pieces
September 22 - 8,190 pieces
December 31 - 15,926 pieces