1808 $5 MS(PCGS#8102)

1808 $5 MS (PCGS#8102)

June 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Lot Description: BD Die State a/d. Outstanding collector quality for this challenging pre-1834 half eagle design type. Warm olive-gold color is joined by lighter pinkish-honey in the protected areas, the latter mingling with appreciable remnants of mint luster. Detail is sharp overall, wear minimal, the strike expertly centered and nicely executed. Impressively smooth during in-hand viewing, and sure to sell for a strong premium to a discerning numismatist.<p>Four different marriages combining three obverse dies and two reverse dies were employed to coin at least 55,578 half eagles in 1808. Two of these marriages bear overdates and two have normal dates. These are roughly divided evenly in terms of overall market availability, with the edge given to the normal date varieties. The key characteristic between the two reverse dies is the spacing between the 5 and D in the denomination. The BD-3 reverse has a well balanced, even spacing particular to this die, which was first used in 1807. Several hundred examples are known of all die varieties combined, with only 100 to 125 of the BD-3 die pair believed extant (per John W. Dannreuther, 2006). No early gold half eagles can be considered common, especially in attractive About Uncirculated and Mint State preservation, and an aggressive bidding strategy will be required to secure this appealing piece.