LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 February Long Beach Signature Coin #460  / 

2607

1795 $10 13 Leaves AU53 ANACS

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:31,250.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1795 $10 13 Leaves AU53 ANACS
<B>1795 $10 13 Leaves--Tooled, Cleaned--ANACS. AU53 Details.</B></I> Breen-6830, Taraszka-1, BD-1, High R.3. In 1795, gold half eagles and eagles were coined at the Philadelphia Mint, beginning with half eagles during the summer. The first delivery of gold was dated July 31, consisting of 744 half eagles. That delivery was followed by eight others through September 16, for a total of 8,707 half eagles produced during the year. The following year, 6,196 half eagles were delivered between June 28 and December 22, 1796. <BR> Production of the eagles was similar. The first delivery of eagles was dated September 22, consisting of 1,097 coins, followed by four additional deliveries through November 27, for a total production of 2,795 coins. These deliveries were followed by eight deliveries of eagles in 1796, a total of 6,934 coins.<BR> While these delivery totals are not particularly unusual, what is highly unusual is the number of die varieties that exist, when compared to the actual annual production. There are 12 varieties of 1795 half eagles, five varieties of 1795 eagles, and one variety each of 1796 half eagles and eagles. John Dannreuther, in <I>Early U.S. Gold Coin Varieties, </B></I>estimates that as many as 600 1795 eagles could still exist today, or more than 20% of the total delivered. Compare this to his estimate of just 125 to 175 1796 eagles surviving today, or less than 3% of the reported 1796 mintage, and something is clearly wrong. Even the current <I>Guide Book </B></I>"mintage" figures fail to correlate with the estimated number of coins surviving today.<BR> At one time, Walter Breen was fond of explaining such situations by claiming that certain coins were saved as "first of their kind." While this may be true to some extent, it does not seem to solve the problem. Undoubtedly, many of the eagles delivered in 1796 carried the 1795 date. The question that remains to be answered is: how many of each? Simple division should give a good approximation. Total mintage for the two years was 9,729 coins. Today, John Dannreuther gives total estimate ranges for survivors as 430 to 582 for the 1795 eagles, and 125 to 175 for the 1796 eagles. Reducing this to a simple ratio problem reveals a "mintage" of 7,481 to 7,538 eagles dated 1795, and 2,191 to 2,248 pieces dated 1796.<BR> The description of this example is probably accurate, but seemingly harsh. The bright greenish yellow-gold surfaces clearly indicate that the coin has been cleaned, but the considerable luster retained in the protected areas of the devices show that it has only been lightly and carefully cleaned. The surfaces are rather extensively abraded, but the only evidence of tooling seems to be a small area above the left facing wing. Two tiny dark spots on the left obverse border at about 3:30 may have also been considered. Despite each of the individual characteristics, the piece presents excellent eye appeal and is a highly desirable representative from the first year that gold coins were produced in Philadelphia.<BR><BR><B>Coin Engraver:</B> Robert Scot<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coins & Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
Sign In to Bookmark Lot