1803/2 $5 MS(PCGS#8084)

1803/2 $5 MS (PCGS#8084)

November 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Lot Description: BD Die State f/b. A well composed early half eagle for both type collectors and specialists. Soft olive undertones backlight dominant medium gold color with some honey shades evident as the coin rotates under a light. A lone adjustment mark (as made) is seen at central obverse, but the strike is well executed throughout with plenty of bold detail remaining in the presence of light wear.<p>This coin displays a fantastic example of die reuse, as all known half eagles struck in 1803 bear the 1803/2 overdate. As with the 1802/1, the recutting failed to obliterate the underlying digit on both known obverse dies, making it plainly visible to the unaided eye. There are four known varieties of the half eagles struck in 1803, all of which show the 3 over 2 overdate clearly. It is one of the more available issues of this early type, thanks in no small to its fairly generous mintage of approximately 32,506 coins. Noted expert John Dannreuther believes that between 125 and 175 examples of the present BD-3 variety exist today in all grades. Numismatists are fortunate in that a decent number of AU and Mint State specimens are known, in spite of the half eagle serving as the workhorse gold coin in the early Republic. Even so, this supply falls dramatically short of demand at all levels.