1795 Half Eagle

HBCC#:

3039

Breen#:

6415

BD#:

9

Judd#:

n/a

Pollock#:

n/a

Walter Breen considered this die variety the single most common 1795 Small Eagle marriage, however, today there are two varieties that are more plentiful. This lovely example is one of the finest known. According to Breen in his 1966 monograph Early United States Half Eagles, 1795-1838, this obverse die was also used for 1795 Heraldic Eagle half eagles. A single example was reportedly in the “World’s Greatest Collection” sale of 1946, but has not been seen since.

Provenance:

Purchased from Michael G. Brownlee, May 11, 1978.

Obverse:

Reverse:

Commentary:

"Obverse: Close date. Tip of 5 overlies drapery. Left top serif of 1 appears to touch hair, but not quite. Reverse: 4 berries, nearly level. Crack edge - N - leaves - eagle's chest."