Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 39

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

$5 Gold

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 2237		1796/5 $5 Capped Bust. Small eagle. . BD-1, Breen-9I, Miller-16, the only known dies. Rarity-4+. NGC graded MS-62. Coin is encapsulated in NGC holder 1891975-006. Slightly reflective surfaces. Light scattered marks, free from adjustment marks. A lovely BU representative of this scarcer Small Eagle five, both sides exhibit bright, yellow-gold color with deeper green-gold undertones perceptible at indirect angles. The strike is nicely centered on the defect-free planchet. Further, it is also sharply executed over virtually all elements of the design. Magnification reveals modest hints of semi-reflective flash from the fields as the viewer rotates the coin under a light. The reflective quality serves to enhance what is already a high level of pleasing eye appeal. A definite find for the better-date Type buyer seeking a representative of this, one of the greatest rarities in the U.S. half eagle series. There is only one known die marriage of the 1796 issue, and its obverse is an overdate that employs an unused 1795-dated die of the Close Date variety. Although archive records indicate 6,196 half eagles were delivered in 1796, there is some discussion as to whether these all bore that date. Walter Breen (1988) opines that these coins were dated 1796/5, and he further states that an additional 623 coins delivered in 1797 were also struck using this die marriage. If true, the author's theory would yield a mintage of 7,253 pieces for the 1796/5. Breen's suggested mintage figure for this issue fails to hold up when one considers that, if accurate, the 1796/5 would have been produced in nearly as great a quantity as the 1795 Small Eagle. This cannot possibly be the case, first and foremost because the 1796/5 is much rarer than the 1795 Small Eagle, a disparity that cannot be explained merely by the fact that the former issue was saved in greater numbers as the first U.S. half eagle. Additionally, the Mint required 12 die marriages to produce the 1795 Small Eagle fives but, as previously stated, there is only a single known variety of the 1796/5. We believe that many of the 6,196 Half Eagles struck in 1796 were actually from 1795-dated dies. A few may have been dated 1796/5, nonetheless, and strong candidates would be those struck at the end of the year. We also find it likely that some 1796/5 examples were delivered in early 1797. Until further information becomes available, it seems probable that the original mintage figure is fewer than 6,196 pieces. Survivors number just 80 to 100 coins. Pop 5; 6 finer; 2 in 63; 3 in 64; 1 in 65. (PCGS # 8067) . This, America's earliest gold design, was struck during President Washington's second administration. Few people realize that Washington was one of the Mint's cheerleaders, as it were, seeing the organization through its darkest early days when congress wasn't overly keen on having such a high-cost facility funded by taxpayer money. Why, just holding a coin like this 1796/5 half eagle in one's hand brings forth a vision of those halcyon days when America was fresh out of the nest and struggling to survive, while the rest of the world seemed large and menacing. That we survived, and that this gold piece survived, is witness to the power of an idea: that a people are fully capable of guiding their own destiny. Estimated Value $100,000 - 120,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $143,750
Lot 2238		1798 $5 Capped Bust. Large eagle. . B-6, Rarity 6. NGC graded AU-53. Lightly toned. A desirable array of residual orange-toned luster, ample detail, and classic early rarity combines in this scarcer 1798 half eagle variety. Smooth-edged devices throughout, including centers, rather than a keen, knife-edge strike, yet still much of the design is plain such as the wing feathers and most letters in the legends. There is a short mark in the hair wave above the temple, and some faint, now lightly worn adjustment lines just visible in the obverse center. Rims are free of bumps. Pop 5; 48 finer. This die marriage is one of the rarer 1798 varieties. Estimated Value $14,000 - 15,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $17,250
Lot 2239		1798 $5 Capped Bust. Large eagle, large 8, 13 stars. . M-27, Rarity 3. NGC graded MS-62. Large wide date; breaks at ES OF. Well struck with an abundance of mint luster present. Many would not consider owning an early U.S. gold piece because of the monetary outlay involved, but he probably wasn't looking at this rich orange-gold beauty from 1798. It is outstanding in almost every detail, though a slightly ineffectual imprint was left by the rebound of the dies that struck the central devices. Choice rims; problem-free fields and devices. Pop 6; 5 finer; 3 in 63; 2 in 64. (PCGS # 8078) . President Adams and his wife were the first residents of the White House. When they moved in in November 1800, the paint was still wet. Before they actually arrived at their destination, however, they got lost in the woods north of the city for several hours. One wonders if John Adams might have used a contemporary $5 gold piece like this 1798 half eagle to pay the delivery van driver? Estimated Value $30,000 - 35,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2240		1798 $5 Capped Bust. Large eagle, large 8, 14 stars. . Breen Encyclopedia-6427, Breen-2C. NGC graded MS-60. For purposes of tracing this coin's future whereabouts, it resides in NGC holder 4066491-002. Early die state without the rim breaks above ES and OF. Free from problems, such as adjustment marks. That final note about the adjustment marks is a key point when evaluating this extremely rare variety. In the early years of the 1800s, mint workers weighed each and every gold or silver planchet before sending it to the coiner for striking. Gold, in particular, is valuable; it would have been nonsensical to issue overweight coinage. Therefore, the mints hired "adjusters" (usually women) who weighed each planchet. Any that they found overweight were filed down with a steel file, either near the rim or across the center of the planchet. The resulting parallel "adjustment marks" remained visible in many cases, even after the coin was struck. This handsome 1798 half eagle is free from such marks. This lustrous coin, which also happens to be the finest certified by NGC and the only Mint State example we've ever seen, has a few small abrasions on the neck and in Liberty's hair consistent with the grade. Similar to the obverse, on the reverse are found a very few light marks, again consistent with MS60 quality, but generally less distinguishing than expected. All this is perhaps obvious from the photos. What we need to emphasize too is that the strike is unusually crisp and detailed for the 1798 14 star reverse variety, with the outstanding sharp metal flows into the deepest recesses of the dies on both sides. After five minutes of silent and intense thought and inspection spent with this handsome 1798 half eagle rarity, prospective bidders will find many things to like about it and will desire to own it. Pop 1; none finer (PCGS # 8080) . The engraver of the reverse die added an extra star, unwittingly creating a unique type coin for modern collectors. The 1798 14 Stars variety is rare and highly desired today. Possibly 20 to 25 examples of this variety exist, usually circulated. (So popular was it with one collector that there were four of these owned by Texas numismatist, Harry Bass!) Walter Breen attempted to justify star counts in relation to the number of states in the union at any given time. He had difficulty explaining this count of 14 stars, which was likely a simple engraving blunder. This is considered a separate design type and popular among collectors, but rarely offered for sale. Estimated Value $70,000 - 80,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $115,000
Lot 2241		1800 $5 Capped Bust. . Breen-1B, M-42. PCGS graded MS-63. Nice and frosty and fully lustrous. Struck in natural greenish-color gold. A pleasing and colorful example of this popular issue. This is an otherwise strongly struck example, with nice detail to all the important high points, with the possible exception of these regions (standard for the issue): central hair around Liberty's ear, and another touch of softness, just a touch, at the breast and vertical shield stripes. (The "chief" as it is called, the horizontal lines above the stripes, are nearly complete.) (PCGS # 8082) . Breen 1-B is a scarcer variety. Mintage of half eagles in 1800 totaled 11,622 coins. Additionally, 26,006 coins were minted in 1801. Some of these were certainly dated 1799; however, the mintage of coins bearing the 1800 date must have been a significant portion of the total. In his Complete Encyclopedia, Walter Breen identified the 1800 mintage as being the total of both figures, or 37,628 coins. Estimated Value $22,000 - 24,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $28,750
Lot 2242		1800 $5 Capped Bust. . Breen-1D, Miller 44. "Stubby stem." NGC graded MS-63. Well struck with lovely golden toning. Nice eye appeal. Rich gold and fiery bright color are the order of the day where this very choice 1800 half eagle is concerned. Adding to those results, a word about strike: this piece has all but needle-sharp devices, with gorgeous detail on the hair and cap, the eagle's wings, breast feathers, shield and motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. This reverse has the shortest stem of the four varieties of 1800 half eagles, and does not extend past the foot of the final A in AMERICA. Pop 18; 7 in 64; 1 in 66 Star. (PCGS # 8082) . Estimated Value $22,000 - 24,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $25,875
Lot 2243		1800 $5 Capped Bust. . Breen-1B. NGC graded MS-61. Nice clean planchet. Lightly toned. Effusive, smooth-as-silk mint frost in amounts so splendid it borders on unusual for such an early half eagle. The color is warm flaxen-gold to orange-gold color. Desirable with this precision strike, as noted in the photographs. Close inspection under a magnifying glass fails to detect even one instance of a noticeable mark or rim problem, although someone who wanted to could point out a minute nick on the tip of Liberty's chin. This choiceness further recommends the coin to bidders one and all. Pop 46; 55 finer. (PCGS # 8082) . Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2244		1800 $5 Capped Bust. . M-42, R-4. NGC graded AU-58. Nice light golden toning. Wonderful lustrous surfaces are still flourishing with rich gold and tawny originality. Well struck for the 1800 issue, including all reverse details present, though minor abrasions do occur in the areas around the devices. Fully lustrous coins of this date are rare. Pop 73. Estimated Value $8,500 - 9,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $10,350
Lot 2245		1802/1 $5 Capped Bust. . Breen-1C. PCGS graded MS-62. Lightly toned on both sides. Nice clear overdate. Fully lustrous -- an important and rare feature for this not all that well preserved half eagle issue -- the surfaces display dominant warm gold color turning to light peach-orange in areas. Save for the highpoints of the of the feathers in the left wing where they join the left edge of the shield, the strike is above-average, indeed sharp, in all areas. 53,176 struck. Pop 26; 48 finer. (PCGS # 8083) . Half eagles of 1802 were minted from two distinctly different obverse dies, each an overdate with digit 2 punched over a previous 1. These two overdate obverse dies are very similar in appearance although the first has the top of the 2 distant from the bust and centered over the original digit 1. Some confusion exists regarding reverse dies and which obverse dies with which they were mated. This example is Breen 1-C and in a middle die state with a few of the later fine reverse die cracks. Estimated Value $13,000 - 14,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $15,525
Lot 2246		1803/2 $5 Capped Bust. . Breen-1C. PCGS graded MS-62. Nice clear overdate. Mostly untoned with nice reflective fields. The surfaces are glossy and radiant. There is no toning. Lacking just a bit of striking detail on the lower left of the shield and claw with arrows, this is still a bold example of the familiar overdate 1803 (all four varieties this year have a 3 over 2 in the date). Only 33,506 struck. Pop 45; 41 finer. (PCGS # 8084) . The Mint was closed from September 24 through November 1, 1803 for the annual yellow fever epidemic. Walter Breen speculated that those struck before the Mint closed may have been coins with earlier dates. Estimated Value $13,000 - 14,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $18,975
Lot 2247		1803/2 $5 Capped Bust. . M-56, Rarity 4. NGC graded MS-62. Nice clear overdate. Well struck and lustrous with some minor adjustments on the obverse. Lovely honey color gold. A satiny coin with intense underlying luster that bolsters the beauty of the bold design. Pop 47; 61 finer. (PCGS # 8084) . Estimated Value $13,000 - 14,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $14,088
Lot 2248		1803/2 $5 Capped Bust. . Breen-1C. NGC graded AU-58. Light yellow gold. In Breen-1C, there is a slight bulge over the U of UNITED as well as (often) a faint die crack through the left edge of the shield extending above and below. A satiny golden example with strong underlying luster still evident on both sides. Nicely struck, though not fully so on the eagle's neck feathers and parts of UNUM -- still, close enough to full that mention is merited. Indeed, the strike of the 1803 coin easily rivals that of many Mint States that are offered. All 1803 half eagles are from overdated 3/2 dies. Pop 89. Estimated Value $8,500 - 9,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $9,775
Lot 2249		1804 $5 Capped Bust. Small 8. NGC graded MS-62 Breen-2E. Well struck and mostly untoned with several light adjustment lines across the lower half of Liberty. A bisecting die break is diagnostic of this obverse. A satiny golden coin with a vivid display of rich luster iridescence on both sides. Desirable with this controlled strike, too, as evidenced on the sharp stars, full rim denticles, and crisp, clear impression at the central high points. Pop 2; 5 finer; 3 in 63; 2 in 64. (PCGS # 8085) . Note the die crack through the digit 0, continuing across the bust of Liberty, eventually reaching the border between LI. The reverse also has a die crack from the right wing to E of AMERICA. This reverse die was earlier used in 1803. Walter Breen noted that this 2-E variety is "probably the least rare 1804." Estimated Value $13,000 - 14,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $12,650
Lot 2250		1804 $5 Capped Bust. Small 8 over large 8. PCGS graded MS-62. PCGS holder 5013460. Well struck and untoned. Nice for the grade. The first digits in the date are plainly repunched. The reverse is exceptionally well struck, while the obverse has sharp details as well barring a few lightly rounded hair tresses. The obverse field has a few wispy hairlines do nothing to impact the immense eye appeal. The surfaces are free of adjustment marks with the only visible ones along the lower right rim not affecting the main central design. Struck on a problem-free planchet. Pop 8; 4 in 63; 2 in 64. (PCGS # 8086) . Estimated Value $18,000 - 19,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $21,850
Lot 2251		1806 $5 Capped Bust. Round 6. . 7X6 Stars. Breen-5E, M-84. PCGS graded MS-63. Mostly untoned and frosty. Satiny and generally well struck, with nominal softness at the juncture of the eagle's left wings and the shield. A pale reddish-orange patina coats each side and gives a nice accent to the raised devices. Outstanding quality for this otherwise relatively plentiful 1806 half eagle variety. Pop 59; 38 in 64; 1 in 65. (PCGS # 8089) . Estimated Value $20,000 - 22,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $24,150
Lot 2252		1806 $5 Capped Bust. Round 6. NGC graded AU-58 Breen-5E. Light even gold toning. Only this single Round 6 die known. Stars arranged 7x6. This 1806 half eagle variety has an obverse with an entirely different date font from all others of this coinage year. The most familiar difference, and the feature usually referenced (A Guide Book of United States Coins variety), is the distinct knobbed 6 in the date. Perhaps even more quickly noted is the layout of the stars on the obverse. On all 1806 half eagles with a Pointed 6, the stars are arranged with eight left and five right. On this Knobbed 6 obverse, however, the stars are arranged with seven left and six right. The reverse is from the same die as the one of the Pointed 6 half eagle varieties. Muted luster graces the satiny, matte-like surfaces of this attractively Mint State. A blend of medium gold, and faint orange gold graces both sides. The strike is somewhat soft on the shield, though the design elements are crisp elsewhere. Excellent rims, without bruises, although some of the dentils fade away in places. Pop 17; 78 finer. (PCGS # 8089) . Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $9,344