1834 $5 Capped Head, Plain 4 MS61 NGC. Breen-6499, BD-1, High R.5....

Description

Eye-Appealing 1834 Capped Head, Plain 4 Five Dollar
BD-1, High R.5, MS61
Perhaps 30-40 Known in All Grades

1834 $5 Capped Head, Plain 4 MS61 NGC. Breen-6499, BD-1, High R.5. The 1834 Capped Head, Plain 4 half eagles were struck shortly before the Classic Head half eagles dated the same year were produced, with reduced gold content. The melt value of the so-called old-tenor gold coins had risen above their face value. The Classic Head half eagles featured a fully redesigned obverse by William Kneass, and the reverse was modified, the most obvious change the removal of the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the scroll above the eagle.
The 1834 Capped Head half eagles are sometimes known as the 1834 Motto half eagles, which distinguishes them from the Classic Head pieces that, as mentioned, lack the motto on reverse. There are two 1834 Motto, Plain 4 die marriages (BD-1 and BD-3), with one 1834 Motto, Crosslet 4 pairing (BD-2). The two 1834 Motto, Plain 4 variants share a common obverse paired with different reverse dies. The Plain 4 obverse die shows the 4 under a fully formed lowest hair curl on Liberty. The reverse of the BD-3 (which was also mated with the BD-2 1834 Motto, Crosslet 4 pairing) shows the denomination 5 D. shifted to the left compared to the BD-1 reverse, so that the 5 is left of the fletchings and the D. is mostly left of the branch tip. On the reverse of the BD-1, as here, the 5 D. is farther right, so that the 5 is under the fletchings, and the D is partway under the branch tip.
The BD-1 is "merely" High R.5, or rare to borderline very rare--Bass-Dannreuther estimates 30-40 pieces known in all grades--while the BD-3 is High R.7 or extremely rare, possibly three to five known.
This BD-1 is bright overall, with even yellow-gold color over surfaces that are sharply struck, if incomplete over the high points. Evidence of contact is present, as expected of the grade, but it is minor throughout, and strong eye appeal is this specimen's long suite. For all Capped Bust 1834 half eagles, NGC has certified six examples in MS61, with 17 finer, but that total includes all three known die marriages for the year--and duplicates. For comparison purposes, PCGS has certified one example of the Capped Bust, Plain 4 in MS61, with 11 finer, again with likely duplicates (6/10).
From The Dr. and Mrs. Claude Davis Collection.(Registry values: P6)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 25RM, PCGS# 8160, GSID# 8855)

Metal: 89.92% Gold, 10.08% Copper
Weight: 8.36 grams
AGW: 0.24169oz
Mintage: 50,141

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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