1799 $5 Small Stars Reverse MS(PCGS#8081)

Spring 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

4506

等级

XF45

价格

92,608

详细说明

This is a very rare die marriage, and the fact that most confirmed examples are circulated to one degree or other presents additional challenges for advanced early gold variety enthusiasts. That offered here is a lovely Choice EF coin that retains much of the original frosty to semi-reflective mint finish. Plenty of bold to sharp striking detail remains, as well, as it is clear to us that this piece saw little in the way of actual commercial use. Warm golden-olive color overall with tinges of brighter orange-rose iridescence, we would not have been surprised if this coin came to us in an AU-50 holder. There are a few wispy hairlines, however, but only a short horizontal scratch on the obverse above the first digit 9 in the date is significant enough to serve as a useful identifier. BD Die State a/a.<p>The 1799 BD-4 die pairing employs an obverse later used in the BD-5 and BD-6 pairings, but with a reverse that appears in no other marriage. The former die is readily identifiable by repunching to the final digit 9 in the date; on the reverse the upright of the letter E in STATES is over a space between two clouds. With a mere 10 to 12 specimens known from an estimated mintage of just 350 to 700 pieces (per John W. Dannreuther, 2006) something must have happened early in the press run to fell this reverse die. Indeed, a terminal die state example with two retained cuds appeared as lot 2260 in our (Bowers and Merena's) sale of March 2003. This early die state specimen is making its first auction appearance in the market modern, and will surely result in strong bidder competition.