1803/2 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. BD-3. Rarity-4. Imperfect T, 3 Free Of Bust. AU-55 (PCGS). An attractive and nicely preserved half eagle for both type collectors and specialists. Vibrant yellow-gold color is accented by richer honey shades near the borders. Bold at center, lustrous in the fields and free from notable abrasions, with traces of planchet adjustment visible at the reverse borders. This coin displays a fantastic example of die reuse, as all known half eagles struck in 1803 bear the 1803/2 overdate. As with the 1802/1, the recutting failed to obliterate the underlying digit on both known obverse dies, making it plainly visible to the unaided eye. There are four known varieties of the half eagles struck in 1803, all of which show the 3 over 2 overdate clearly. It is one of the more available issues of this early type thanks to its moderate mintage of 33,506 coins. Noted expert John Dannreuther believes between 125 and 175 examples of the present BD-3 variety exist today in all grades. Numismatists are fortunate in that a decent number of AU and Mint State specimens are known, in spite of the half eagle serving as the workhorse gold coin in the early Republic. Even so, this supply falls dramatically short of demand at all levels. From the Naples Bay Collection. From the Naples Bay Collection.
