1795 Half Eagle

HBCC#:

3050

Breen#:

6422

BD#:

14

Judd#:

n/a

Pollock#:

n/a

This half eagle introduces the new Heraldic Eagle reverse design and was almost certainly struck in 1798 after the Small Eagle coinage was completed. Most likely the 1795 and 1797 Heraldic Eagle coins were minted prior to the first coinage of 1798 Heraldic Eagle coins, either in 1797 or early 1798. However, no documentation survives to support such a scenario. The obverse die was first used in 1795 and is the same die displayed at HBCC-3038. With this reverse die, Walter Breen recorded a second variety that apparently does not exist.

Provenance:

Purchased from Manfra, Tordella, and Brookes, August 14, 1974. Earlier in Stack's sale of the Forrest Collection, September 1972, Lot 177.

Obverse:

Reverse:

Commentary:

"Obverse: Close date. Tip of 5 barely overlies drapery. Prior 5 punch visible to left of top of 5. Reverse: Heraldic eagle. Crack MERICA."