1795 $5 Small Eagle MS(PCGS#8066)

February 2025 Showcase Auction - U.S. Coins

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

1182

等级

MS61

价格

654,551

详细说明

Offered is a scarce Mint State example of one of the most significant and eagerly sought of all U.S. Mint gold issues. Pleasing deep honey-gold color is accented by iridescent toning in pinkish-rose. The fields are semi-reflective in finish and form a nice backdrop to satiny, boldly to sharply struck design elements. There are no sizable or otherwise individually distracting marks, and the eye appeal is superior for the grade level. The reverse is rotated approximately 45 degrees clockwise from normal coin alignment, providing further interest for variety specialists. BD Die State c/b.<p>The first gold coin struck for the United States of America was the 1795 Small Eagle half eagle, 8,707 examples of which were delivered that year. Based on the number of coins extant, it is highly likely that additional examples of this issue were struck in 1796. Indeed, John W. Dannreuther (<em>Early U.S. Gold Coin Varieties: A Study of Die States, 1795-1834</em>, 2006) estimates that the mintage for the 1795 Small Eagle may be as high as 12,106 pieces. The most plentiful of the 12 known die marriages is BD-3, offered here, with an estimated mintage of 2,000 to 3,000 coins. However, like all pre-1834 quarter eagles, half eagles and eagles, the 1795 Small Eagle $5 suffered a high rate of attrition through commercial use and melting. It is an indication of the rarity of both the type and issue that the BD-3 variety, with only 175 to 225 coins believed extant (again per Dannreuther) is the most readily obtainable die marriage of the date. Scarce from a condition standpoint and especially desirable as one of the nation's first gold coins, this appealing Mint State coin is bound to attract spirited bidding when it crosses the auction block in December. Plan your strategy accordingly.