1805 Half Eagle

HBCC#:

3091

Breen#:

6444

BD#:

3

Judd#:

n/a

Pollock#:

n/a

This is a lovely Mint-State example of the Breen 2-B die combination. The reverse die has a short rim break connecting dentils over the right side of the final S. This is less advanced than the 1-B die marriage at HBCC-3094, clearly indicating that this variety was struck first. This variety was recorded in Breen’s monograph as Rarity-6, although Rarity-5 is probably more accurate. Many varieties that Walter Breen listed as rarities when he prepared his 1966 monograph have much greater populations today, as more numismatists examine these issues.

Provenance:

From Stack's sale of the G DiBello Collection, May 1970, Lot 809.

Obverse:

Reverse:

Commentary:

"Obverse: Wide date. 180 well separated. 05 are close. 1's bottom left serif missing. Top serif abuts curl's bottom. Tip of 5 just touches bust. I recut right at top. No crack at 0. Reverse: Lowest berry, stemmed, under leftmost serif of A. Lowest arrowhead nearly aligned under right upright of N. Space between two clouds bit to right of being centered under (T)E. One leaf point free of I, under its left upright. Left side of ribbon loop from eagle's mouth is well defined. Spine from top left shield point. Above (E)S and space, four denticles gone from die crumbling. Clashed at bottom. Lapped."