1813 Capped Head Left Half Eagle. BD-1. Rarity-2. MS-63 (PCGS). Uniform olive-gold coloration adorns the lustrous surfaces of this Choice example. Nicely centered with bold definition to the central elements. Overall untroubled by significant marks and pleasing for the assigned grade. This piece is traceable back more than 42 years to our (Stacks) sale of October 1979 and is now, once again, available to collectors in the modern numismatic market. As a series, the Capped Head Left half eagles struck from 1813 to 1834 are among the most elusive in all of U.S. numismatics. Most examples are from the first year, 1813, having been set aside by the contemporary public due to the novelty of the design. Most other dates and varieties are rare, if not non-collectable, since rising gold prices resulted in the wholesale destruction of pre-1834 U.S. gold coins through the mid 1830s. At the Choice Mint State level, the 1813 half eagle remains considerably scarce and is eagerly pursued by collectors. From our (Stacks) sale of October 1979, lot 110; our sale of the Naples Bay Collection, November 2020 Auction, lot 9177.
