1813 $5 MS(PCGS#8116)

1813 $5 MS (PCGS#8116)

Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Description du lot: BD Die State b/b. Pleasing for the abundant luster and bold strike, which are evident at the first glance. Continued study reveals the outstanding quality of the surfaces which earned this piece such an impressive grade from PCGS. Hints of adjustment marks are noted at the borders and with a few others just faintly visible Liberty's broad cheek where a trace of gold was removed from the original planchet at the Mint prior to striking. On the reverse the proud eagle's feathers stand tall save for those on the thighs, which are somewhat soft, as are the talons and upper edge of the right wing. Notice the quality of the fields and devices, for they show so few signs of handling, and the luster is fresh and bold.<p>As a series, the Capped Head Left half eagles struck from 1813 to 1834 are among the most challenging in all of U.S. numismatics. Most examples are from the first year, 1813, as they were set aside by the contemporary public due to the novelty of the design. Most other issues and varieties are rare, if not non-collectable, since rising gold prices resulted in the wholesale destruction of pre-1834 U.S. gold coins through the mid 1830s. The present example represents the BD-1 die pairing, identifiable by the reverse die, since both varieties share the same obverse. For BD-1, the first letter S in STATES is over the right side of the letter E in the Latin motto E PLURIBUS UNUM.