1830 Capped Head Left Half Eagle. BD-2. Rarity-5+. Small D. MS-63 PL (PCGS).Offered is one of the very finest 1830 half eagles - an issue that is scarce to rare at all levels of preservation. A remarkable Prooflike Mint State example, this piece is wonderfully original with pretty olive-orange gold color. The mint finish is full, intense, and contrasts softly frosted motifs with decided reflectivity in the fields. Boldly to sharply struck and nicely preserved, provenance purposes alone compel us to mention a thin, shallow disturbance in the lower left obverse field coming off of Libertys chin. Strikingly beautiful and numismatically rare, even the most discerning gold enthusiast will be impressed with this Capped Head Left half eagle.<p>In 1829, the Philadelphia Mint obtained a new Rush Muhlenberg coining press that would allow for a high raised rim on coins, which had the dual effect of not only extending circulation life but also protecting the design from the normal rigors of daily commercial use. Chief Engraver William Kneass replaced the long-tooth dentils on previous issues with finely beaded or rounded dentils, all of which are now noticeably smaller and more regular in diameter. The new press allowed the Mint to produce the entire mintage of 126,351 half eagles struck in 1830 with only two die pairings that shared a common obverse. The two reverses are most easily distinguished by examining the denomination indicator; the D is significantly smaller on the BD-2 variety, represented here, than on the BD-1 pairing. The Large D reverse was originally employed on the 1829 BD-2 small diameter half eagles, then again in 1830. The die emission sequence of the two varieties is not clear. Based on die state analysis, it appears that the two reverse dies were used alternately to produce the five batches of half eagles delivered on March 31, May 20, June 30, September 30, and December 31. Likely the coiner simply grabbed the sole 1830-dated obverse and whichever reverse die was handy at the time to fulfill the order. The two varieties are roughly comparable in rarity; John W. Dannreuther (2006) notes that 25 to 35 Large D BD-1 specimens likely exist compared to some 30 to 40 of the Small D BD-2 variety.<p>Adding to the lovely eye appeal of this distinctive specimen is its superior quality. It represents one of only two grading events in the PCGS PL category, both of which are at MS-63. The coin is a numismatic treasure, and it is worthy of the strongest bids.PCGS# 88152. NGC ID: 25RA.PCGS Population (both die marriages of the issue): 2 in all grades in the Prooflike category, both MS-63 PL.
