1804 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. BD-2. Rarity-4+. Small (a.k.a. Normal) 8, Small 4. AU-55 (PCGS). OGH. This premium quality Choice AU example retains much of the original satin to semi-prooflike finish. The fields are noticeably mirrored, which feature provides a nice backdrop to sharply to fully defined design elements. Handsome olive-orange color throughout with surfaces that are exceptionally well preserved for having seen light commercial use. BD Die State b(early)/d.<p>With 70 to 90 coins believed extant (per John W. Dannreuther, 2006), BD-2 would appear to be one of the more readily obtainable die pairings of the 1804-dated half eagle issue. Our offerings argue otherwise, however, for this is the first 1804 BD-2 five that we have brought to auction since 2014. It is not only a superior quality coin for the assigned grade, but also represents an unusual and unlisted die state. The reverse is state d, as described by Dannreuther, with cracks from the border at the letter E in AMERICA extending into the base of the eagles left wing, and another from the upper left border through the eagles right wing and into the shield at upper left. The obverse, however, does not correspond to BD State a in that it is not uncracked. On the other hand, it is also not fully described by BD State b for, while cracked from the lower border, through the digit 0 in the date and into the base of Libertys bust, the crack does not extend to the upper edge at the letter L in LIBERTY. A particularly desirable example of the issue, one of the most popular in the Capped Bust Right half eagle series in that it shares its date with several famous numismatic rarities in the 1804 Draped Bust cent, 1804 Draped Bust dime and, of course, the legendary 1804 dollar.
