1828 Half Eagle

HBCC#:

3152

Breen#:

6488

BD#:

4

Judd#:

n/a

Pollock#:

n/a

This lovely coin is from the Garrett Collection and is a wonderful example of Breen’s 2-B variety. Walter Breen registered eight examples of this variety in his Complete Encyclopedia , including two Proofs, and the rest AU or lower. This example has a pedigree to William Hesslein, who sold the coin to the Garrett Collection in 1919. In the November, 1979, catalogue of the Garrett Collection, this variety was described as having a population of about 12 coins.

Provenance:

From the Bowers and Ruddy Galleries sale of the Garrett Collection, Part, I, November 1979, Lot 470. Earlier from William Hesslein, November 25, 1919.

Obverse:

Reverse:

Commentary:

"Obverse: Normal date, numerals closely spaced. Belted 8s. Faint curved remnant of prior 8 visible at top left of last 8. Base of 1 minutely lower than that of 8. Star 1 close to bust. Star 13 mostly to right of hair, distant from 8. No visible die center punch lump in front of ear. Reverse: Small letters. Letters T and M even smaller than those of 1826A. Perfect T (no triangular punch in bottom of upright). S over E. T over R and space right. S centered over US. Base of E even with that of adjacent T. Perfect M. Fairly wide 5D, 5 fairly close to leaf, top of 5 a bit higher than that of D. Large period. Small die center punch lump in upper shield. Surfaces between lower shield stripes less rough. Crack between 5 D. Not clashed."