1795 Half Eagle

HBCC#:

3043

Breen#:

6417

BD#:

12

Judd#:

n/a

Pollock#:

n/a

This is the final variety of 1795 Small Eagle minted, with a reverse die that continued in service for the 1796 dated issue. A very rare variety, which Walter Breen considered Rarity-8, noting he had seen just two examples. Several others have turned up since Breen’s notes were published in 1966. This example remains one of the finest known. The obverse die is instantly recognized by the widely recut E, with half the upright visible between B and E.

Provenance:

Purchased from Dan Messer at the 1971 ANA, August 14, 1971.

Obverse:

Reverse:

Commentary:

"Obverse: Close date. "Apostrophe" letter punch remnant between BE, showing top left serif and a portion of the upright of an erroneously punched letter. Tip end of 5 just does overlie drapery. Date numerals close. Reverse: Two berries on outer left wreath, 1 inside and 1 outside on right."