1815 Half Eagle

HBCC#:

3128

Breen#:

6469

BD#:

1

Judd#:

n/a

Pollock#:

n/a

This is a famous rarity of the decade and is one of just three coinage denominations to bear this date. The others are the quarter dollar and half dollar. Just 635 half eagles were minted on November 3, 1815 and were struck from bullion deposited on behalf of the Bank of Pennsylvania. In his annual report, Mint Director Robert Patterson wrote: “The high price of gold and silver bullion for some time past in the current paper money of the country has prevented … deposites [ sic ] of these metals being made for coinage to any considerable amount.”

Provenance:

From the Bowers and Merena Galleries sale of the Norweb Collection, Part I, October 1987, Lot 767.

Obverse:

Reverse:

Commentary:

"Obverse: Die center punch lump between curl and ear. 5 in date from same punch as that used for 5 in denomination. Raised vertical linear irregularity above rear of eyebrow, running to curl above. Also within (L)I(B). Cracks: star 9 to edge; thru stars 12 and 13. Reverse: That of 1813B. Modified devices; motto letters tall, shield more nearly symmetrical, right wing bone more angulated than that of 1812. No tongue. S(T) a bit right of being centered over E. D markedly double punched. Period high relative to D. Crack base of D thru period, continuing thru tops of MERICA. Clash in shield. Heavily lapped, removing or weakening heavy clash marks evident in 1814 on reverse 1813B, Die State (d)."