Lot 1257
1818 $5 Capped Head. "STATESOF". PCGS graded MS-64. A well struck beauty with intense frosty mint luster. The beauty screams with originality as the "skin" is undistrubed and boasts of rich golden sunset hues with delicate rose color hioghlights. This is the among the most attractive specimens graded by either service regardless of which numerical grade has been assigned! The surfaces of this scarce early Large Head half eagle -- known in the business as an "FHF" which is slang for Fat Head Five -- the surfaces are toned in such a way as to enhance the devices. Each star and each curl is fully struck on the obverse, and similar fine detail encompasses the reverse where there isn't even the slightest bit of weakness on the eagle. Close examination notes a few trivial scuffs in the frost, mainly in the fields, with the most notable from the I of UNITED to one of the eagle's wing feathers. Liberty's cheek has a short diagonal mark below the lovelock and earlobe that can be used as an identifier.
A naked-eye variety, the engraver cut STATES and OF too close together, running the words into one, perhaps thinking he was running out of space needed to finish the legend.
One of only a handful graded this high by PCGS of the STATESOF variety, but there are none that could possibly beat it in terms of originality or natural color. Pop 7; 1 in 66 (PCGS # 8121) .
Die note: As Harry Bass, noted authority on the series, observed, all examples seen of this variety have the reverse rotated. The pressman must have installed the dies improperly, as the alignment seems to be constant, indicating that there was no movement of the dies during striking.
Estimated Value $60,000 - 65,000.
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| Realized $66,125 |
