1807 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. BD-4. Rarity-4+. Large Reverse Stars. MS-63+ (PCGS). This lovely premium Choice example will appeal to both advanced early gold specialists and high quality type collectors. Soft satin luster blends with handsome deep orange-apricot color, the appearance attractively original, and uncommonly so for a pre-1834 U.S. Mint gold coin. The strike is remarkably sharp for the type, as well, with both the central and peripheral features well defined. Exceptionally attractive and worthy of strong bids. BD Die State c/a.<p>The 1807 Capped Bust Right half eagle is found in two principal types featuring either small stars or large stars on the reverse, produced in six separate die pairings. All known examples of BD-4 show signs of die lapping on the obverse to remove defects. However, the obverse die experienced an as-yet unknown terminal injury compelling it to be retired after producing between 5,000 and 7,500 half eagles, or approximately one-fifth of the total number coined. Today, fewer than 100 examples are known, with most found in the higher circulated grades. Fully Mint State, and Choice at that, the present example is a noteworthy condition rarity for the type, issue and die pairing. PCGS# 519901. NGC ID: 25P8. PCGS Population (all die marriages of the issue): 3; 13 finer (MS-65+ finest). From the George Schwenk Collection. Earlier from our (Bowers and Ruddys) sale of the Robert Marks Collection, November 1972, lot 1039; Heritages sale of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection, Part I, September 2022 Long Beach Signature Auction, lot 11044.
