1800 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. BD-2. Rarity-3+. MS-62 (PCGS). CAC.，This is a beautiful piece with vivid reddish-rose highlights to a base of warm orange-gold patina. Boldly to sharply defined from a well centered and nicely executed strike, both sides also possess full mint luster in a soft satin texture. Relatively smooth in hand and not all that far from Choice quality, this handsome early half eagle is worthy of a premium bid.<p>The workhorse of the two known obverse dies for the 1800 half eagle, the Blunt 1 obverse struck four of the five known varieties of this issue. Bass-Dannreuther 2 was the first of the Blunt 1 varieties produced, and it vies with BD-5 as the most readily obtainable variety of the date. The exact mintage for the 1800-dated issue is difficult to discern since the Mint during the late 18th and early 19th centuries employed whatever usable dies were at hand to strike coins in fulfilment of orders under crude, if not chaotic working conditions. Early gold expert John W. Dannreuther (2006) states that the recorded mintages for calendar years 1799, 1800 and 1801 likely include coins dated 1798, 1799 and 1800 (there were no 1801-dated half eagles struck). Based on the number of coins extant from all die marriages, the mintage for the 1800 half eagle as an issue is likely in the range of 15,000 to 30,000 pieces. Survivors from the BD-2 variety, as here, are scarce and number fewer than 300 coins in all grades. Superior in both quality and eye appeal at the assigned grade level, this delightful example is sure to please.，PCGS# 8082. NGC ID: 25NW.，，From the Alexander Collection. Earlier from B. Mex Mehls sale of the Dr. Russell H. Renz Collection, March 1948, lot 3661. Lot tag included.
