The popularity of this final year circulation strike Capped Bust Right eagle is sure to result in keen bidder interest in this piece. The strike is a bit uneven with isolated areas of softness to the detail on both sides, particularly the reverse at the eagles left (facing) wing tip, talon, and at the junction of the right (facing) wing and shield. Other areas are boldly to sharply defined, and the surfaces are retoning quite nicely in light orange-gold. Moderate hairlining and a touch of glossiness to the texture explain the PCGS qualifier, while accuracy also compels us to mention a few wispy pin scratches in the right obverse field. The latter should not be confused with several faint adjustment marks over and before Libertys profile, which are as made.The final date among circulation strike Capped Bust Right eagles, the 1804 is also one of the most popular and eagerly sought. The date 1804 is one that needs no introduction among advanced numismatists, associated as it is with several key date circulation strike coins, as well as the legendary 1804 dollar. The sole circulation strike variety of the 1804 eagle, BD-1 with a Crosslet 4 in the date, is also associated with the counterpart to the 1804 dollar, the Proof 1804 BD-2 Plain 4 eagle, which was produced during the 1830s for presentation to foreign leaders in an attempt to open new trade routes for the United States.Contrary to popular belief, the 1804 Crosslet 4 was not the final circulation strike variety produced for the Capped Bust Right eagle series. That distinction goes to the 1803 BD-6, which utilizes the same reverse die, albeit in a later state. As such, at least some portion of the 3,757-piece mintage recorded for calendar year 1804 did not include coins of this date. The mintage from the 1804 BD-1 dies may be as small as 2,500 pieces (per John W. Dannreuther, 2006), and survivors are legitimately scarce and probably number no more than 100 or so coins. With the extreme popularity of this date in U.S. numismatics, as described above, the 1804 BD-1 eagle enjoys tremendous demand at all levels of preservation. Opportunities to acquire an example are usually few and far between in any given year, a fact that should be considered when bidding opens for this lot.BD Die State b/b, the later of the two known for this issue.,,PCGS# 8566.,,From the Edgar B. Lupfer Collection.
