TURBAN HEAD FIVE
DOLLARS OR HALF EAGLE (1795-1807)
EAGLE AND SHIELD ON REVERSE (1797-1807)
1805 Half Eagle
1805
Half Eagle
PCGS No:
8088
Mintage:
Circulation
strikes:
33,183
Proofs:
0
Designer:
Robert Scot
Diameter:
±25
millimeters
Metal content:
Gold - 91.7%
Silver and Copper - 8.3%
Weight:
±135
grains (8.748 grams)
Edge:
Reeded
Mintmark:
None (all dates
of this type were struck at the Philadelphia mint)
Introduction:
In 1805, the mintage figures given for Wide Date, Imperfect
1 and Close Date, Perfect 1 are conjectural but fit
the relative scarcity of these types. The former, [8,083],
comprises the six deliveries of March 12-June 13; the
latter, [25,100], the six de¬liveries of Sept. 11-Dec.
21. We know that the Perfect 1 came into use to replace
the broken punch of 1800-5.
Auction Appearances
and Collateral Evidence:
The 1805 half eagle is a relatively common coin that
can be found with ease in circulated grades up to and
including choice About Uncirculated. Numerous Mint State
examples exist, usually in the MS-62 and MS-63 grades.
Gem examples are extremely rare; only three MS-65 coins
have been graded by PCGS and NGC, and there have been
none graded finer. This issue has appeared at auction
more than 120 times since 1995, and the record for this
date was set in 2005, when a PCGS MS-65 sold for $94,300;
this was the first MS-65 coin to appear at auction in
the past decade.
Number of Appearances:
122 (36%)
(43) Unc:
Superior 6/78; B&R 2/77; Stack's 2/77; New England
11/75; Paramount 8/75; AAA 1/75; Beck 1975 (2); Superior
2/74; AAA 11/73, 5/72; ANA 1971; Stack's 5/71; DiBello
1970 (2); Kosoff 2/70; Merkin 3/69; Miles 1968; Kreisberg
4/67; ANA 1966; Kosoff 10 65; Pierce 1965; ANA 1963;
Fed. Brand 1963; Wolfson 1962; Golden 1962; Melish
1956(3); Davis/Graves 1954; Menjou 1950 (2); Kern
1950; MC 1948; Lee 1947; Atwater 1946; WGC 1946 (2);
Hall 1945; Flanagan 1944; Roach 1944 (2); Ten Eyck
1922
(18) VF:
Kreisberg/Cohen 10/78; Superior 10/78; RARCOA 8/78;
Beck 2/77; Pine Tree 3/76, 2/75; Pine Tree (GENA)
1974; Stack's 3/74; Superior 2/74; AAA 11/73; Gilhousen
1973; Stack's 9/72; RARCOA 2/72; Golden 1963; Cicero
1960; Smith 1955; Menjou 1950; Higgy 1943
(6) Fine:
RARCOA 5/73; Superior 12/72; Stack's 2/70, 4/67; ANA
1964; Roach 1944
(1) VG:
Superior 12/72
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.
