1808 Half Eagle

HBCC#:

3115

Breen#:

6457

BD#:

4

Judd#:

n/a

Pollock#:

n/a

This variety is identified as Breen 4-B and is from the same obverse die as HBCC-3114. The reverse has I in PLURIBUS beneath the upright of E in STATES. This is the most often seen variety of 1808 half eagles, although it is not nearly as common as the 1807 Capped Bust coinage. An interesting feature of these coins is the notched ray of the star at the lower right. This was a signature of dies prepared by John Reich.

Provenance:

Purchased from Stanley Kesselman, July 30, 1975. From Pine Tree's Breen II sale, Lot 353.

Obverse:

Reverse:

Commentary:

"Obverse: Normal date, evenly spaced - final 08 perhaps slightly closer. Upright of 1 centered over a space between denticles. 0 centered over a denticle. Top of 1 higher than that of 8. Miniscule die center punch lump. Lapped. Clash now less evident in many locations - beneath ear, beneath drapery, etc., but still visible. (HWB believes Breen obverses 3 and 4 to be the same die). Reverse: HWB reverse A, Breen reverse B. Widely spaced 5 D. D near wing. U near leaf. 5 close to leaf. Not clashed. I in motto below left tip of E; final (E)S above (B)U and space to right. This reverse reused in 1809."