1833

1818 $5 Capped Head. STATESOF NGC MS64

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:17,500.00 USD Estimated At:35,000.00 - 45,000.00 USD
1818 $5 Capped Head. STATESOF NGC MS64
Both sides are saturated in light yellow-gold to coppery orange brilliance that accentuates the ample remaining luster; even the exposed cheek area retains its frosty allure. Mathematically exact standards seen in the sharp devices accentuate what is already a marvelous state of preservation for any early half eagle, let alone one of the scarcer post-1814 dates!

A lovely toned example of an underrated and significant rarity. Attractive bright gold color sparkles in your eyes on both sides, offering excellent visual appeal. The obverse is nicely reflective while the reverse shows dramatic cartwheel luster, like most specimens of this issue which have a Prooflike obverse and less Prooflike reverse. (The Bass and Norweb coins have both been described as one-sided Proofs.) The strike is bold and nicely detailed throughout, and the overdate easily visible. As expected at this grade level, there are very few scattered handling marks and abrasions, none of which stand out as important, and a luster is noteworthy for its brilliance, a genuine "plus" for any rare date half eagle from the 1820s. Most specimens of this issue are in the EF-AU range, with a total Mint State certified population (not census, just a total of grading events) of nine. Most estimates peg the total number of survivors around 30, though this seems high to us. The coin is housed in PCGS holder 50251553.

PCGS's Population Report shows 10 grading events ranging from AU-50 to MS-65. If only 19 have been graded including NGC and resubmissions (perhaps 12-15 different coins?), the rarity rating of 30 or so known of this variety may be too high. The number of discrete specimens in private hands may be more like 20 to 25. (#8121)