1820 Half Eagle

HBCC#:

3140

Breen#:

6478

BD#:

6

Judd#:

n/a

Pollock#:

n/a

This example is part of Walter Breen’s third group with curled-base 2 and small letters. An outstanding example of Breen 3-D, this coin is pedigreed to the famous Eliasberg Collection, the only complete collection of United States coins ever formed. Its earlier pedigree extends to a Chapman Brothers auction held in 1893. Further study of existing varieties is needed before an emission sequence for the 1820 half eagles can be completed. Harry Bass noted die states in his inventory with the following sequence: 3-C, 4-C, 3-D, and 4-D. An alternate sequence might be: 3-C, 3-D, 4-C, and 4-D.

Provenance:

From the Bowers and Ruddy Galleries sale of the Louis Eliasberg Collection, October 1982, Lot 376. Earlier from a Chapman Brothers sale in 1893.

Obverse:

Reverse:

Commentary:

"Obverse: Curve-based 2. Belted 8. Sides of interior of 0 parallelized. Bottom tight curl to left of being centered over space between 2 0. Die center punch in front of ear. Clashing evidence removed by lapping. Reverse: Small Letters. Perfect T (no triangular punch in bottom of upright). S over E and space right. T over I and space left. S over S. Base of E in line with that of adjacent T. Perfect M. Distinctive raised horizontal line fragments within openings of shield's lower section."