LOT Heritage Rare Coin Galleries  /  2006 October Dallas Signature Coin Auction #428  / 

2907

1797 $10 Large Eagle MS62 NGC. Breen-6834, BD-4, Taras

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1,600.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1797 $10 Large Eagle MS62 NGC. Breen-6834, BD-4, Taras
<B>1797<$10> Large Eagle MS62 NGC.</B></I> Breen-6834, BD-4, Taraszka-12, High R.4. The eagle was the largest gold denomination prior to 1849. Early eagles were struck only through 1804, unlike the half eagles, which continued to be struck nearly annually until 1916. Not surprisingly, Heraldic Eagle ten dollar pieces are scarcer than their half eagle counterparts, since the latter type was coined through 1807.<BR>The present beautiful example has a lustrous reverse and a satiny obverse. The portrait is slightly subdued, but the surfaces are generally radiant, and have fewer abrasions than expected. The only mentionable marks are one pinscratch each right of the arrows, east of the chin, and across Liberty's jaw. A strong glass is required to locate these. Unlike many early eagles, adjustment marks are absent, presumably because the planchet was of proper weight to begin with. The strike is exquisite, since softness is noticeable only on the reverse star above the eagle's beak. This star is opposite Liberty's shoulder, which is a highpoint of the type.<BR>The die state appears identical to that of the Bass representative, which is currently on loan to the A.N.A. museum in Colorado Springs. Radial die cracks are present from the rim to obverse star 8, through the second 7 in the date, the R and C in AMERICA, and the to the center of the eagle's tail. The design of the eagle differs from BD-2 and B-3. For example, BD-3 has a toucan-like extended beak, while BD-2 has a chicken-like lengthy thin neck. The eagle for BD-4 has a tongue, but it is short and thick. The tongue is absent on BD-3, and is long and thin on BD-2. Presumably, a device punch was used that included a shield, wings, etc., but this punch was incomplete. The eagle's head and neck, as well as the letters in E PLURIBUS UNUM, were entered by hand onto the working die. Census: 12 in 62, 3 finer (9/06).
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