1821 Half Eagle

HBCC#:

3143

Breen#:

6479

BD#:

1

Judd#:

n/a

Pollock#:

n/a

This issue marks the beginning of a series of half eagle rarities extending through the end of this type in 1834. Although some issues are more plentiful, such as that of 1823, others are extremely rare. This 1821 date is an example of a generous mintage with multiple die varieties, all of extreme rarity. Mint records indicate 34,641 half eagles were coined in 1821. Of this quantity, three different obverse dies were used with a single reverse. Approximately 30 examples survive of all three die marriages. This reverse is the same as HBCC-3142, an 1820 die marriage.

Provenance:

From Stack's sale of the Nate Shapero Collection, October 1971, Lot 975. Earlier from that firm's sale of the Wolfson Collection, 1962.

Obverse:

Reverse:

Commentary:

"Obverse: Curve-based 2. Belted 8. Star 13 just touches hair, point pointing to a denticle. Reverse: That of 1820E. Large letters. 'Punched' T (letter T has a triangular punch in bottom of upright). S over E and space right. T over R and space right. S over S and space left. Base of E in line with that of adjacent T. Perfect M. Close 5D, top of 5 even with that of D. Large period. Tip of bottom arrowhead immediately below right base serif of I (distinctive)."