1797 Capped Bust Right Eagle. Heraldic Eagle. BD-3, Taraszka-11. Rarity-5. AU-53 (NGC).；The bright sunshine-yellow glow of this piece is accented by the faintest rose-gold suggestions atop the highest points of each side. Frosty luster closely halos the design elements, remaining most bountiful throughout the obverse peripheries. The vertical shield stripes on the reverse harbor a series of moderate marks, though the surfaces are otherwise pleasantly smooth and unabraded. Adjustment marks have dwindled the robustness of Libertys shoulder on the obverse and are also responsible for the missing two stars on the corresponding celestial array. An overall attractive and satisfying example of this rare variety.<p>The Capped Bust Right eagles of the late 18th and early 19th centuries are truly historic and majestic relics of our numismatic heritage, representing the largest denomination struck by the U.S. Mint until the debut of the double eagle in 1850. Introduced as a denomination in 1795, a major revision took place just two years later with the implementation of the Heraldic Eagle reverse partway through the 1797 issue. <p>The 1797 Heraldic Eagle mintage was a product of three known die marriages which shared a single obverse die but three distinct reverses traditionally attributed to Assistant Engraver John Smith Gardner. Curiously, the BD-3 marriage features a reverse with an eagle unlike the other two, exhibiting a short, thick neck that is more commonly associated with the artistry of Chief Engraver Robert Scott, who set the standard for the design from 1799 until its conclusion in 1804. The 1797 BD-3 is the scarcest of the three known Heraldic Eagle varieties of the year, with perhaps as few as 40 examples remaining. Scarcely offered unmolested by cleaning and other mishandlings, this AU-53 representative is an exciting opportunity for early gold enthusiasts.<br />
