Bill Jones' complete gold coin type set
$5 Capped Head, Large Size 1813-1829


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Origin/Country: United States
Design Description: HALF EAGLES - CAPPED HEAD
Item Description: $5 1813
Grade: PCGS MS 62
Owner: BillJones
 
Winning Set: Bill Jones' complete gold coin type set
Date Added: 4/19/2009
Research: See NGC's Census Report for this Coin

Owner's Description

This is a very scarce type coin, not because of the mintages, but because of extensive melting. During the period from 1813 to 1829 the Philadelphia mint issued 717,409 $5 gold coins that bore this design. In his book, "A Guide Book of United States Type Coins," Dave Bowers estimated that from 3,000 to 5,000 of these coins exist today in all conditions. That works out to a survival rate of 0.7%!

Despite its rarity, I have never found this coin to be particularly attractive. I wonder why Jon Reich changed the design? I've never seen any speculation about that in the books and articles that I have read.

The 1813 half eagle is the most common date that bears this design. The reported mintage was 95,428. Today an estimated 600 to 850 examples of the 1813 half eagle exist in all grades. These surviving examples are divided between two die varieties. This piece, Bass – Dannreuther -1 (BD-1) has an estimated survival of 450 to 640 pieces.

This coin has bright mint luster on both sides and no marks of any significance. There is a bit of coppery toning within the lettering and stars.

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