Lot 1999
1827 $5 Capped Head. . M-152. PCGS graded AU-58. A staggering rarity in any grade and a date that is seldom offered. The numismatists at Bowers and Merena in the Bass II sale noted that this is an extremely difficult year to pedigree, and it may be years before anyone is able to piece something together to see just how many are known of this date. Perhaps 30 are known, more than Breen's estimate of 12-15, but no one has done the work needed to tell for sure that we know of. We can state that 10 have been auctioned in the past decade, including this coin which is making a rare second appearance. The surfaces are toned with a rich coppery hue and there are minimal circulation marks. We note one thin scratch from the field near the neck, nearly touching the chin to the field before Liberty's eye. Identifiable by a tiny nick in the cap above the B in LIBERTY. PCGS has graded 3 as such, with 11 graded higher, and curiously none graded lower! All told, that makes 14 specimens (at most) seen by that service. A fantastic opportunity for the specialist in the half eagle series to nail one of the great, underappreciated rarities of the series.
Estimated Value $18,000 - 20,000.
From Bowers and Merena's Sale of the Harry Bass, Jr., Collection, October 1999, lot 818.
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| Realized $19,550 |
