1804 $5 Small 8 MS(PCGS#8085)

August 2011 Chicago ANA World's Fair of Money Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

9349

Grade

MS62

Price

23,000

Lot Description

1804 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. Miller-66/67, HBCC-3088, BD-3. Rarity-5. Small 8. MS-62 (PCGS). Here is a scarce die variety that is seldom offered so well preserved. The strike is sharp on Liberty's curls and the eagle, and this is a middle die state with a thin die crack through the 8 to the bust to her cap, and another that splits star ten and perfectly enters Liberty's mouth to the tip of her shortest curl on her neck. On the reverse there is a more severe crack which spans the left wing to the central shield, then crosses horizontally to the rim through the E of AMERICA. Notice that the right serif has broken off all three appearances of the larger T on the reverse, with a partial engraver repair on the one in UNITED. The 4 is boldly repunched high, with a lighter 4 seen well below, similarly the T of UNITED is also repunched right. Delicate copper toning within the shield lines, rich reflective gold hues elsewhere.<br /> <br /> <strong>Numismatic Reflections by Q. David Bowers<br /> </strong>A very pleasing example at a &ldquo;just right&rdquo; grade level of this somewhat scarce die variety.