1795 Capped Bust Right Eagle. BD-2, Taraszka-2. Rarity-4+. 13 Leaves. AU-55 (NGC). Handsome surfaces are awash in warm, even, rose-honey color with a tinge of golden-apricot evident. The strike is ideally centered, the major design elements retaining plenty of bold detail despite light high point rub. The centers are a bit softly defined - typically of this large type that was posed quite a challenge for the fledgling U.S. Mint - but the detail toward the borders is appreciably sharper. There are neither significant adjustment marks nor mentionable marks apart from a couple of shallow reeding marks in the right obverse field. With blushes of original luster evident as the surfaces rotate under a light, this is a desirable Choice AU representative of a historic U.S. Mint gold issue.<p>The large and impressive gold eagle served as the benchmark gold denomination for the fledgling United States monetary system. Thirty three millimeters in diameter, the first eagles struck at the Philadelphia Mint are visually striking. Designed by Robert Scot, the Small Eagle reverse type was only used for three years and was replaced in 1797 by the Heraldic Eagle reverse. The mintage of 1795-dated examples is subject to debate; the number of eagles delivered during calendar year 1795 is recorded as 5,583 pieces, but this does not include the likelihood that a significant quantity of 1795-dated coins were also made in 1796. While this is the mintage figure that is generally reported for the date, detailed studies by John W. Dannreuther (published 2006) indicate that the actual mintage for all 1795-dated eagles is probably between 5,859 and 10,915 coins.<p><p>Four of the five die marriages used bear a reverse that has 13 leaves on the palm frond held in the eagles talons. One of these is BD-2, a die pair that likely represents 1,500 to 2,332 of the overall mintage, making this one of the scarcer of the five marriages so far identified. Only 100 or so specimens in all grades remain extant. Scarce in all levels of preservation and in perpetual demand as the first year of issue for the denomination, this specimen will easily find a place of honor in any collection. PCGS# 8551. NGC ID: 25ZT.
