1803/2 Half Eagle

HBCC#:

3081

Breen#:

6441

BD#:

3

Judd#:

n/a

Pollock#:

n/a

This is an exceptional example of Breen 1-D, the single most common variety of this date. Walter Breen noted that the vast majority of specimens of this date are from the reverse die. Of course this is true, since this reverse die is also known on the new variety with a crack through the date, displayed at HBCC-3082. Regarding the obverse die, Walter Breen noted that this is very rarely found in a perfect state. But all known examples of this variety have a perfect obverse. For the cracked obverse, see HBCC-3082.

Provenance:

Purchased from Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, February 29, 1972.

Obverse:

Reverse:

Commentary:

"Obverse: 3 over 2, 2 projecting behind 3 at two points, but not to front of 3 at its base knob, as it does in the second obverse. No residual base of 2 within bottom loop of 3 (lapped away). 3 clear of bust. T lacks its bottom right serif, and Y its left. Weak pointed star 9 (lapping) apart from Y. Reverse: Third reverse used. Long curved stem. Crack from upper left edge to wing, thru shield to E(RICA) to edge. Diagonal shiny stripe thru shield is in die!