1796/5 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. BD-1. Rarity-4+. AU-50 (NGC).A sharp example of this seldom encountered overdate. The surfaces deliver a bright complexion and display ivory-gold color with traces of deeper honey toning throughout. A few faint hairlines show in the fields under scrutiny, though the protected areas remain nicely adorned with satiny mint luster. The strike is sharp for the issue with just a negligible softness to the eagles breast that is encountered on most specimens. A handful of scattered marks are commensurate for the grade but none of these are individually distracting. pAlong with the 1796/5 half dime, the 1796/5 $5 represents one of the earliest such overdates in the nations coinage. Additionally, 1796 turned out to be a year when every denomination was struck, from the half cent through to the eagle, a situation that would not be repeated until well into the nineteenth century. pppWhile the reported mintage is 6,196 pieces for calendar year 1796, the vast majority of these pieces were likely struck from 1795-dated dies. John W. Dannreuther (2006) provides an estimated mintage of just 1,057 to 2,000 half eagles actually bearing the 1796 date. From this quantity, between 80 and 100 1796/5 half eagles are thought to survive for collectors. The BD-1 variety is the only known die marriage of the date. The obverse die would only be used in this pairing, while the reverse die had previously been used to the strike the 1795 BD-12 variety. This issue is scarce to rare in all grades and is particular desirable with problem-free surfaces as offered here. An ideal example for both type collectors and specialists. p
