Lot 1450
1812 $5 Capped Draped Bust. NGC graded MS-65. Well struck on a problem-free planchet in natural light greenish color gold. The untoned frosty mint surfaces are remarkably clean. A total of 58,087 minted for all varieties.
More often than not frosty for the issue, as seen here, though rarely with near-pristine surfaces, the bright golden surface is nearly superb with few distracting bagmarks. We note a tiny mark above the eagle's head; a faint scuff line in the frost lies behind the head on the obverse. These can serve as identifiers. And so next to the devices, which are sharply struck on obverse and reverse, including full stars, most hair curls crisp (barring a few that are nearby the drapery clasp) and an impressive eagle whose only softening in the device is at the back of its neck. The extraordinary Gem MS65 we offer is tied with a handful of others for the finest Wide 5D, and is one of the most delightful we have ever sold at auction. It ranks high among all Mint State Capped Draped Bust survivors of this sought-after Type. Pop 10; none finer. (PCGS # 8112) .
The Wide 5 D variety (there are two 1812 die varieties known) is the more available of the two, and it is also one of the more often seen varieties of the Capped Draped Bust type of 1807-12. For connoisseurs of numismatic minutiae (but of little relevance to the active buyer of rare high quality early U.S. gold), there are two curious die lines seen on the reverse of many coins of this variety. According to the Dannreuther reference, "they may be graver's marks or some other 'injury' to the die. One begins at the rim about two o'clock, passes to the left of A(MERICA), and ends in the wing. The other is curved through the horizontal shield lines and ends in the left (observer's) wing.
Estimated Value $70,000 - 80,000.
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