1798 $5 Small 8 MS(PCGS#8079)

1798 $5 Small 8 MS (PCGS#8079)

Summer 2025 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Description du lot: BD Die State b/b. A vivid and handsome, deep honey-orange coin, a rare issue in terms of both variety and die pairing. Central striking detail is soft on both sides, primarily due to a concentration of adjustment marks (as made) on the obverse, although these are well concealed within the tresses of Liberty's hair and are not readily evident at all viewing angles. The definition sharpens considerably toward the borders, where one is treated to full, uniform denticulation. An otherwise frosty finish yields to subtle semi-reflectivity in the fields. Free of significant marks with a lovely appearance for a lightly circulated early U.S. Mint gold coin.<p>The second scarcest <em>Guide Book</em> variety of the 1798 Heraldic Eagle five, the Small 8 has an extant population of only 75 to 100 coins across three die marriages (BD-6, 7 and 8). The BD-6 is the second scarcest in this group with just 30 to 40 examples known (per John W. Dannreuther, 2006). Two out of the last four AUs that we offered were impaired, further confirming the rarity and desirability of this lovely PCGS/CMQ AU-58 coin. We can recall handling only one 1798 BD-6 half eagle that is finer than this - the PCGS MS-61 in our August 2016 ANA Auction, lot 3242. Interestingly, that coin also had numerous adjustment marks at central obverse.