Lot 1743
1801 BD-2 Rarity 2. PCGS graded AU-55. An attractive example with significant luster remaining in the protected areas. Appealing golden toning with a splash of magenta coloration here and there. A freshly graded coin from an old time collection. Quite desirable.
The peak of production for the design occurs this year, when 44,344 1801 capped bust eagles were struck. Two varieties are known, with one obverse die bearing a Close Date and another obverse bearing a Wide Date. Although eagles were delivered well into 1802, that year’s production is believed to have been from 1801 dies. No 1802 capped bust eagles exist.
The fact there were only two die pairings in 1801 is notable to those who understand early coin issues. Other die marriages of this era struggled to produce 1,000 coins before falling into disrepair. Of the two die varieties for 1801, one is rare with fewer than 50 examples extant, while the other, this BD-2, is considered relatively common with between 600 to 800 survivors in all grades. BD-2 is most easily distinguished from BD-1 by the location of star 1 relative to Liberty's lower curl and the position of star 13 to the bust, although some researchers prefer to differentiate the two varieties by classifying the obverse stars. On BD-1 the stars have shorter spines, whereas the stars on BD-2 are more spindly in definition. The reverse dies are also different, but quite similar in appearance. Attribution often uses the star adjacent to the eagle's beak; on BD-1 the eagle's upper and lower beak touch one spine of the star, while only the upper beak is close to the star point on BD-2 (PCGS # 8564) .
Estimated Value $15,000 - 16,000.
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| Realized $19,550 |
