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HBCC #3045 – 1797 Half Eagle – Obverse HBCC #3045 – 1797 Half Eagle – Reverse
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1797 Half Eagle

HBCC#:
3045
Breen#:
6419
BD#:
1
Judd#:
n/a
Pollock#:
n/a

This lovely half eagle was acquired by Harry Bass from the Eliasberg Collection, with an earlier pedigree from the John H. Clapp Collection. Walter Breen specifically mentioned this coin in his Complete Encyclopedia. Four varieties of 1797 half eagles are known with Small Eagle reverse, from obverse dies with 15 or 16 stars. This 15 stars obverse has a widely spaced date. This is a new reverse die not previously used in 1795. Identified as Breen 10-J, this variety is very rare as are all 1797 Small Eagle varieties. The reverse has only one berry in the wreath, at outside left.

Provenance:
From the Bowers and Ruddy Galleries sale of the Louis Eliasberg Collection, October 1982, Lot 328. Previously from the John H. Clapp Collection.
Obverse:
Reverse:
Commentary:
"Obverse: 15 stars. Wide date. Crack. Reverse: Small eagle. 1 berry, outside left. Crack edge - I(T) - base of right wing."