1021

[L#1021] 1800 $5 EF40 solder on edge

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 4,500.00 USD
[L#1021] 1800 $5 EF40 solder on edge
Traces of solder on the edge with typical roughened surfaces from its use in jewelry. Yet these little problems are inconspicuous in the overall attractive strike and color of the piece, an early half eagle. The year this piece was struck also happened to be an election year in America. It was a contentious contest, the election of 1800. Four candidates, including John Adams and Thomas Jefferson pretty much split the ticket -- throwing the decision to the House of Representative. After some backroom horse-trading, Jefferson was declared the winner -- and the country nearly tore itself apart through partisan bickering between the Federalists (represented by the Adams wing of the government) and the so-called Anti-Federalists, who backed the winner, Jefferson. In such panicky conditions, is it any wonder so many gold pieces of 1800 would be exported? Very few remain in collectors' hands, perhaps as few as 3% of the original mintage.