1820 Half Eagle

HBCC#:

3141

Breen#:

6476

BD#:

1

Judd#:

n/a

Pollock#:

n/a

This is an unlisted variety of Breen’s first group, with squared-base 2 in the date and large reverse letters. Technically, this die combination does not qualify as a “new variety,” which would suggest that it was first discovered after publication of a reference work. This particular die marriage was published by Edgar Adams in his study of the series, but not included by Walter Breen in his 1966 monograph. Harry Bass attributed this die combination as “Breen 5-F” in his notes. Earlier, Edgar Adams listed this variety as his number 8.

Provenance:

From Stack's sale of the Robison Collection, February 1979, Lot 356.

Obverse:

Reverse:

Commentary:

"Obverse: Flat-based 2. Symmetrical 8. Interior of 0 ovate. Star 1 point quite close to tip of bust (distinctive). Small curl centered between 2 0. Star 13 distant from 0; apart from hair; and is mostly to right of an imaginary vertical line drawn from back of cap to back of hair. Large die center punch in front of ear. Bulge above 8 and another between star 2 and chin derived from die. Adams 8. Reverse: Large letters. 'Punched' T (letter T has a triangular punch in bottom of upright. Used in other years.). S over space between E P. S over S and space right. M lacking most of right serif at base of left stand. Raised bar joins middle point of M to right stand. Horizontal bar in field between R I(C). Adams 8."