NOT SOLD (BIDDING OVER)
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This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2002 Feb 19 @ 18:00UTC-08:00 : PST/AKDT
Half Eagles 1807 Bust Left. Breen-6453. Reverse of 1808. PCGS graded Mint State 67. Superb! <b>PCGS encapsulation 6586209. <B>Population: 2, with none finer. A landmark offering!<B> Truly an astounding coin to be consigned, one that is amazing to view either with the unaided eye or under low-power magnification for it is, without doubt, a scintillatingly brilliant and frosty specimen. The color is rich, bright golden in hue. It has the merest hint of pale orange on either side. Frost everywhere, including the tops of the hair curls, atop and within all stars (which all are complete, we should quickly add, razor-sharp); full crisp luster in the field and on Liberty's face, neck, torso, and equally stunning mint freshness throughout the intricately modeled reverse. This represents a new design by John Reich, a major modification from the earlier Heraldic Eagle type that had been in production since the late 1790s. Here we have Reich's model of Liberty which faces left and wears a soft cap of a style that was considered the height of fashion in its day. Known as a mobcap, the word LIBERTY is inscribed on the cap's headband in small letters. Curls fall in ringlets below, with seven stars to the left, six at right. Numerals are now smaller in date than formerly. On the reverse, the newly designed eagle grasps a branch and arrows as before, the branch returned to his right (observer's left, the dexter position); wings raised, shield on breast, motto ribbon in field above, 5 D below. The new design drops the stars and clouds from above the eagle. This design would be produced continuously from 1807 through 1812 and is similar to the quarter eagle of 1808 and lettered edge half dollars from 1807 through 1836. Generations of gold coin collectors may come and go between offerings of such a beautiful 1807 half eagle. The mintage this year was about average for the period, 51,605 pieces; but as has long been assumed, most were melted, either exported to Europe or to the states of central and southern America. It could be that no more than 2% to 3% of any year's mintage exists today, the remaining 98%+ having been lost forever. In uncirculated grades, the percents declines even more. As we said earlier, this Mint State 67 is one of only two specimens certified (both carry the PCGS logo). There are two in Mint State 66 as well, but none higher. How could there be any finer than this! The mere thought is an impossibility.</b> Almost all obverses by John Reich, 1807-17 inclusive, on every denomination from dimes through half eagles, show the lowest star at right with one point notched: his "signature." On some dies this notched point faces the border; on others (no half eagles) it faces a curl. Don Taxay apparently first called the notched star a signature, before 1963; Stewart Witham {1967}, following Overton, called these notched stars "scallops." On coins dated 1818 and later these notched points no longer occur; Reich left the Mint March 31, 1817, after exactly 10 years without a pay raise and with much professional jealousy from the Robert Scot, his superior in office. This series is notable for changes in numerals as well as the two 1807 varieties: two different overdates for 1808, the entire 1809 mintage from an overdate die, the 1810s with four different combinations of large and small dates with large and small letters, the 1811s with two different sizes of 5. Placing the denomination on gold and silver coins was a Reich innovation; earlier U.S. coins (except for half cents, cents, and 1796-97 half dollars) lacked any denomination, because they passed by weight and fineness rather than "by tale" (by count, with each coin assumed to contain full face value). <p align="center">Superior Galleries was founded in 1929 and has been a leader in
the numismatic auction business since 1971.</p> <p align="center"><b>Consignments wanted for June 2 & 3, 2002 Pre-Long Beach Sale.</b></p> <p align="center"><b>Call Steve Deeds</b> at (800) 421-0754 ext 230.</p>
Auction Location:
United States
Previewing Details:
2/11-2/15 from 9am-5:30pm by appointment only; 2/16-2/17 from 9am-5:30pm no appointment necessary
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