1802/1 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. BD-1. Rarity-4+. Centered Overdate. MS-62 (NGC).Delightful golden-yellow surfaces are fully lustrous with intense reflectivity in the fields. The devices are satiny in texture with razor sharp striking detail to virtually all design elements. BD Die State a/a.<p>The half eagles of 1802 are a delightful study in the Mints parsimony regarding dies. A reported 26,006 eagles were delivered in 1801 according to Mint records; however, none were actually dated 1801. Despite this, not one but two 1801 obverse dies were prepared for an anticipated additional production run that never came to be, and so they were both shelved. Both dies were taken out of early retirement in 1802 and recut with the new date. The recutting was not particularly effective in eliminating evidence of the earlier date so that both dies show clear traces of the original underlying 1. A total of eight die pairings were employed using these two obverse dies. The first if these obverse dies was used in five of these marriages and is termed the Centered Overdate because the 2 in the date is well free and clear of the base of Libertys bust, while on the second obverse the 2 is placed high and touches the base of her bust. An estimated 53,176 half eagles were struck in 1802, of which between 5,000 and 7,500 were from this die pair. A scarce issue by any definition, the variety is one of the more available for the year with maybe no more than 100 remaining in numismatic custody. The majority of known examples are at the upper circulated levels of preservation, with only a distinct minority reaching Mint State. A positively enchanting example of a fascinating early U. S. gold issue. <p>
