1807 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. BD-5. Rarity-6+. Large Reverse Stars. MS-61 (NGC). This handsome Mint State early eagle displays light yellow to medium orange-gold patina and satiny surfaces on both sides. The strike is well centered with most design elements suitably bold for an example of this challenging early U.S. Mint gold type. Cracks on both sides confirm the BD Die State as c/b. The mintage for the 1807-dated issue is among the more complex to navigate in the early half eagle series, as a total of eight die pairs have been confirmed involving both the Capped Bust Right and Capped Bust Left design types. The Capped Bust Right BD-5 marriage is the rarest of all varieties of the date, with an estimate of just 18-22 known pieces extant (per John W. Dannreuther, 2006). Easily identified by the first obverse star touching a denticle, this was the only use of the obverse die as it failed quickly. <p>Any Mint State coin of this year will always be in demand among type collectors and early gold enthusiasts, but this specimen will have added pressure from variety collectors seeking to secure a high-quality representative while there is a chance. Offerings are few and far between, so take advantage while the opportunity exists.
