Lot 2117
1806. Round 6. . BD-6, Breen-6448. NGC graded MS-64. Nicely struck on a problem free planchet with untoned frosty mint surfaces throughout. A desirable Red Book variety, this obverse shows the stars arranged 7 and 6, the date has its round-top 6 firmly upon the truncation of the bust. The reverse field is hallmarked by a short line, possibly a lint mark, above the last A in AMERICA, and only the lightest adjustment marks appear at the upper right rim through STAT. The principal devices on both sides are marvelously detailed with only minor weakness seen on the left side of the shield, all complemented by deep, frosty glowing luster. Conventional wisdom has it that the Knob 6 variety is somewhat more accessible than the Pointed 6 but prices realized from auctions show close for the two main varieties.
The Round 6 (a.k.a. Knobbed 6 in many reference books) is a one-off variety, the only use of this obverse. In the date, all four numerals are small and squat, with 8 and 0 leaning left. Small letters in LIBERTY. There is a die crack through N of UNITED to the arrowheads. Dannreuther (and others) consider the Round 6 coinage "by far the most commonly seen 1806 variety and also the most seen variety among all the Draped Bust Large Eagle coins." Possibly as many as 35,000 to 50,000 of the entire 64,093 pieces minted that year are comprised of this variety, with perhaps 600 to 900 known today in various (usually much lower) grades.
"As with the 1806 half dollars, the Pointed 6 half eagle varieties had the obverse die in the hammer and the reverse die in the anvil position. For the Knobbed 6 half dollar issues and this half eagle variety this die alignment was reverse, resulting in better struck obverses." Pop 50; 2 in 65.
Estimated Value $35,000 - 40,000.
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