None (all dates
of this type were struck at the Philadelphia mint)
Introduction:
Many coins delivered in 1804 bore date 1803. The common¬est
var. dated 1803 (Breen 1-D) shows crack through shield,
branch, and E(RICA), evidently following the two least
rare 1804's, which have this same rev. uncracked or
with less of the crack developed. "Large date"
coins (alias "large 8") of 1804 are from a
blundered die: Scot first punched 180 into the die blank,
using the extra-large numeral punches intended for the
$10 coins. When he positioned the 4 for hammering in
next to the 0, he noticed that there was not enough
room for it. The next step was to have this die blank
reground to efface part of the large 180. and to enter
the date from smaller punches, from the font in use
for cent dies.
Auction Appearances
and Collateral Evidence:
Although called a "Small 8," the 8 of the
date is no smaller here than on any of the sur¬rounding
years. The name persists, however, in order to differentiate
this variety from the repunched date known as the 1804,
Small 8 Over Large 8 (see next). The 1804 half eagle
is relatively common and compares favorably in population
with the 1799, 1800, and 1805 issues. The Small 8 variety
and the Small 8 Over Large 8 variety are of equal rarity,
although the former shows up more frequently at auction
and in the population reports. Mint State examples are
somewhat scarce, and no examples have been certified
higher than MS-64. The auction record for this variety
is $40,250, set in 2005 by a PCGS MS-64 coin.
Number of Appearances:
91 (27%)
(31) Unc:
Stack's 12 78; Kreisberg Cohen 10 78; Kagin's 5'78;
ANA 1977; Beck 1975; RARCOA 5 73; Delp 1972; DiBello
1970; Kreisberg 4 67; Stack's 10,65; Pierce 1965;
Fed. Brand 1963; Golden 1963; Melish 1956; Baldenhofer
1955; Davis Graves 1954 (3); Kern 1950; MC 1948 (2);
Lee 1947; Atwater 1946; WGC 1946(3); Hall 1945; Bell
1944; Flanagan 1944; Roach 1944; Dunham 1941
Comments: As a date, the 1804 is no more scarce than
any of the other 1800-1807 Heraldic Eagle Half Eagles.
However, when broken into the two major varieties
listed in this book, each is somewhat more scarce
than the other Half Eagles of this period with the
exception of the 1806 Pointed 6. The 1804 Small 8
is obtainable in all grades and gems are encountered
with some regularity. One major subvariety (pictured)
has the 4 in the date distinctly repunched. It is
prominent enough that most cataloguers call attention
to it but, although it is more rare than the normal
date Small 8 variety, it does not command a premium
price.
