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Sale 137
Pre-Long Beach Auction
| $5 Capped Bust/Small Eagle |
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Description |
Realized |
Lot 1012 |
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1796/5. BD-1, Rarity-4+. NGC graded MS-62. Exceptional quality for this elusive date. The overdate feature is sharp and clear, and the bold definition on Liberty's curls and the eagles feathers are all boldly defined. The obverse die was plucked from 1795 and had to be updated with the 6 punch over the final digit 5, and the reverse die had been used to strike half eagles during 1795 and was incorporated here to create this single die pairing for 1796. Despite the reported 1796 mintage of over 6,000 pieces, current research shows that likely only 1,000 to 2,000 were struck, with perhaps 80 to 100 surviving today. This is clearly one of the finer examples known, and very near the top handful of those certified by all grading services today.
The year 1796 became most extraordinary at the Mint. Not only were several new denominations struck for the very first time, but all authorized denominations were stuck, many in tiny numbers, but enough to satisfy the Mint directors who demanded that all denominations be struck and put into circulation for this particular year. For half eagles, only a single die pair was produced, this one, and the focus moved on to other denominations. The production of all denominations in a single year would not occur again at the Philadelphia Mint for over 50 years, and this most extraordinary effort stands as a testament to the early Mint's employees and their tenacity to accomplish what had to have been a Herculean task of die and planchet production. An incredible opportunity for the gold or date specialist who seeks condition rarity and high quality classic coins. Pop 4; 1 in 63; 3 in 64; 1 in 65. Estimated Value $80,000 - 100,000
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$117,000 |
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