1818 Half Eagle

HBCC#:

3130

Breen#:

6470

BD#:

2

Judd#:

n/a

Pollock#:

n/a

This variety represents an engraving problem with the reverse die. The engraver placed STATES much farther from the eagle’s wing than necessary, with the result that this word crowds OF without adequate space between. In fact, as much space separates AT in STATES as does the two words. The obverse die of this variety also has a spacing problem with the stars, which were started much too far from the bust or hair curl, and are crowded together. Compare this obverse to either of the others exhibited at HBCC-3129 or 3131.

Provenance:

From Abner Kreisberg's sale of November 1972, Lot 1160.

Obverse:

Reverse:

Commentary:

"Obverse: Regular star punch. First 8 and last 1 centered over denticles below. Bottom left serif of first 1 missing. Denticles abut one another, no open space. Star 13 distant from hair. Lightly clashed, evidenced by horizontal line at bust truncation. Faint embryonic die crack above and below earlobe. Reverse: STATES OF appear as one word, S and O being far too close together. 5 has flat top - punch used in 1815, and for earlier reverses. On all examples seen of this die combination, the reverse impression is rotated 45 degrees clockwise from normal."