1803 Capped Bust Right Eagle. BD-6, Taraszka-32. Rarity-7. Large Reverse Stars, 13 Stars. MS-62 (NGC). Among the finest known for this early eagle die pairing, and one of just two Mint State coins certified. A highly lustrous piece, the obverse is fully prooflike and contrasts with a frosty reverse. Both sides exhibit bright deep orange-gold with subtle rose and olive highlights evident under a light. Well struck for this early U.S. Mint gold type, the impression is well centered and most design elements are boldly rendered. Marks are small and singularly inconspicuous, and a few light adjustment marks at cloud 1 on the reverse are as made. The only worthwhile provenance marker (and it is difficult to discern through the NGC holder) is a shallow edge bruise on the obverse outside star 7. BD Die State h/c.<p>According to Walter Breen, the mintage for the 1803-dated eagle is 15,017 coins, divided into 8,979 pieces for the Small Reverse Stars <em>Guide Book</em> variety and 6,038 coins for the BD-5 Large Reverse Stars, Extra Star die pairing. Most numismatic references, including the <em>Guide Book</em>, have long accepted this figure for the 1803 eagle. The author further divides the Small Reverse Stars mintage into 4,816 coins delivered on August 19, 1803, and 4,163 coins delivered on November 19, 1803. Breen attributes the 6,038 eagles delivered from June 1 to December 11, 1804, to the BD-5 Large Reverse Stars, Extra Star variety. John W. Dannreuther (2006), however, provides a range of 13,850 to 20,450 eagles struck from 1803-dated dies, the higher estimate likely closer to reality since we know that the 1803 BD-6 is a backdated variety struck after the 1804 BD-1 and, hence, is not included in Breens estimate given above. Dannreuther estimates that only 300 to 600 examples were coined from the 1803 BD-6 dies, with just six to 10 coins extant in all grades.<p>BD-6 vies with BD-2 as the rarest die marriage of the 1803 eagle. The desirability of this variety is enhanced by a number of other factors. First, this is a backdated variety. The progression of reverse die states confirms that the 1803 BD-6 eagle was struck after the 1804 BD-1 variety. As such, the mintage for the 1803 BD-6 die pairing is almost certainly included in the Mints delivery of 3,757 eagles from December 28 to 31, 1804. Second, the fact that this variety was struck after the 1804 BD-1 confirms it as the final eagle struck for circulation before President Thomas Jefferson suspended production of this denomination on December 31, 1804. Finally, <em>this is the only early eagle die variety that Harry W. Bass, Jr. was never able to acquire for his collection</em>. Although two early eagle varieties are missing from the Harry Bass Core Collection, an example of the 1803 BD-4 was originally part of the collection but was sold in error.<p>We have been able to positively confirm the existence of only seven 1803 BD-6 eagles, all but two of which are included in the list of "Significant Specimens" for the variety in the early eagle reference authored by Anthony J. Taraszka. We have updated the provenances and added to the authors census to account for later auction appearances, as follows:<p>1 - <strong>PCGS MS-61</strong>. Ex our (Bowers and Merenas) Harry Einstein Collection sale, June 1986, lot 444; Heritages Portland ANA Auction of August 1998, lot 7744; Anthony J. Taraszka; our sale of the Anthony J. Taraszka Collection, August 2019 ANA Auction, lot 4040.<p>2 - <strong>NGC MS-62</strong>. Ex our (Stacks) sale of September 1977, lot 1531; Heritages Summer FUN Signature Coin Auction of June 2008, lot 2106. <strong><em>The present example</em></strong>.<p>3 - <strong>NGC AU-53</strong>. Ex our Chicago ANA Sale of August 2014, lot 13240; Heritages sale of the Poulos Family Collection, Part II, September 2019 Long Beach Signature Auction, lot 4961.<p>4 - <strong>NGC AU-53</strong>. Ex Superiors sale of the Miguel Munoz Collection, Part III, June 1981, lot 362; Heritages FUN Auction of January 2009, lot 4112; Heritages Fort Worth ANA Signature Auction of March 2010, lot 2400; Heritages Summer FUN Signature Auction of July 2010, lot 4718; our sale of the Dr. James A. Ferrendelli Collection, August 2014 ANA, lot 11116; our Rarities Sale, February 2016, lot 224; Heritages sale of the Long Island Collection, August 2021 ANA Signature Auction, lot 3447.<p>5 - <strong>AU-55</strong>. Ex Superiors session of Auction 84, July 1984, lot 410; our (Bowers and Merenas) Estates of Philip M. Mann, Jr. and Glenn B. Smedley sale, September 1988, lot 538.<p>6 - <strong>PCGS EF-45</strong>. Ex Heritages sale of the R.M. Phillips Limited Partnership Collection, August 2009, lot 1297.<p>7 - <strong>NGC VG Details--Mount Removed</strong>. Ex Heritages Charlotte ANA National Money Signature Sale of 2003, lot 6347; our Philadelphia Americana Sale of September 2011, lot 5967.<p>Our offering of this coin presents the advanced early gold variety specialist with an opportunity to do something that Harry W. Bass, Jr. was never able to do -- acquire an example of the rare and historic 1803 BD-6 eagle. Interested parties are urged to bid strongly and expect intense competition for the honor of securing this important coin. From our (Stacks) sale of September 1977, lot 1531; Heritages Summer FUN Signature Coin Auction of June 2008, lot 2106.
