|
Sale 78
|
|
press UP arrow key to increase the zoom ratio.
press DOWN arrow key to decrease the zoom ratio.
press RIGHT arrow key to increase the zoom window size.
press LEFT arrow key to decrease the zoom window size.
|
|
Lot 1763
1807. Bust left. BD-7. Rarity 5+. PCGS graded MS-60. Well struck and bursting with deep golden-orange luster and rose-color highlights. Housed in an Old Green Holder. Only 51,605 struck.
Banks and bullion houses continued to hoard and melt this new Capped Draped Bust Left issue of 1807 to the same extent or more as all of the old tenor gold coins (pre-1834). The mintage figures for these years can be determined with a greater degree of accuracy than those prior, but the Mint still employed dies in years othe rthan the dates on them.
This new type was the result of hiring John Reich as an assistant engraver. His new design with a floppy cap has traditionally been called Capped Bust, but the previous type by Robert Scot (1795-1807) also has a capped bust. This design also has drapery, so the nomenclature has been confusing. The definitive difference is the direction Liberty is facing. The previous type has her facing right, while this type has her facing left.
Not as many dies were required for this type compared to the previous ones. This is because the Mint had improved die life through a series of innovations in their die preparation process.
This obverse paired with a second reverse creates the other variety, so the reverse die used here failed. The cracks noted by Dannreuther places this in the intermediate state "b" for the reverse and state "b" for the obverse because the dies clashed.
As Dannreuther confirms, "The die production procedures had improved so dramatically from the earliest days of the Mint that some dies (the next reverse, for example) were lasting for nearly 100,000 strikings. The simplified design of this type versus the previous one may also have contributed to longer die life. Intricate designs cause greater stress on dies, leading to cracking and other injuries. Clashing was still prevalent, but the simpler designs had fewer areas of conflict.
A delightful first-year coin with abundant mint frostiness covering both sides. Suitable for an advanced collection of early United States Half Eagles (PCGS # 8101) .
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000.
|
| |
| Realized $16,450 |
|
