Lot 3774
1823 $5 Capped Head. PCGS graded MS-64. Well struck and lightly toned. Only 14,485 pieces struck. A frosty head of Liberty in bright vivid yellow gold against the equally lustrous and frosty fields. We note a small surface mark crossing from the third star past Liberty's upper lip, otherwise all is bright and fresh and bordering on Gem quality. Some scattered hairlines on both sides, also, almost always seen on the delicate golden surfaces of early Capped Head $5 gold pieces. Only a single die pair was used in 1823, so all coins of this date are considered rare. Locating a Mint State example can take years of patience.
Boldly struck for the issue, as well, and we might add, without the usual areas of weakness at the eagle's talons on the reverse or along the junction line of the shield with the wings. The 1823 is one of the few dates in the design type (1813-29) that can be found with any regularity (regularity being comparative in this illustration). Still, with that in mind, it is worth noting that a choice Mint State 64 specimen such as the present coin is a rarity in the absolute sense. To quote the expert numismatist Q. David Bowers when preparing his landmark work on the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part II, "on an absolute basis, very few 1823 half eagles exist, and no doubt a survey of leading dealers would reveal that many if not most have never handled even a single specimen in any grade." This particular coin would be a stellar addition to a Type set of museum-class quality. Pop 5; none finer at PCGS (PCGS # 8131) .
Estimated Value $60,000 - 65,000.
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