1800 Capped Bust Right Eagle. BD-1, Taraszka-23, the only known dies. Rarity-3+. AU-58 (PCGS). This lovely 1800 eagle borders on Mint State quality. Vividly toned with blushes of iridescent reddish-rose to dominant deep orange-gold patina, both sides are enhanced by reflectivity in the fields. The strike is well centered, and the borders are fully and uniformly denticulated. Most major design elements are sharply to fully rendered -- those in the centers certainly are -- and softness is confined to stars 1 through 5 on the obverse, which are blunt largely due to the presence of light adjustment marks (as made) at star 4. Here is a bright and flashy piece that would do equally well in a high quality gold type or variety set. BD Die State c/e.<p>Along with 1799 BD-7, 1799 BD-10 and 1801 BD-2, 1800 BD-1 is one of the most available early eagles in todays market, making it popular with gold type collectors. Most survivors, however, are well worn in grades from EF through low end AU, and many are also impaired due to cleaning or other mishandling. The present example, fully Choice at the AU-58 level with attractive surfaces, represents a find for astute bidders.<p>The 1800 eagle is also popular with early gold variety enthusiasts due to the existence of a remarriage of the issues only known die pairing. The workhorse die of the 1799 BD-10 variety remained in use when the Mint changed to the 1800-dated obverse die. A number of 1800 eagles were struck (the 5,999 examples delivered November 18 to 25, 1800?) before Mint personnel replaced the obverse die yet again with that of the 1801 BD-1 marriage. That obverse die failed quickly, however, prompting the Mint to return the 1800-dated obverse to production. Based on the fact that most 1800 eagles extant are in some stage of Die State c/e with dentil clash on the reverse along the top of the letters STAT in STATES, as here, we believe that most 1800-dated eagles were struck in 1801 from the remarriage of these dies.
