1799
Half Eagle - Capped Bust Half Eagle Two Coin Set (Small and
Large Reverse Stars)
The numismatic adventure can be enriched
by acquiring groups of coins in meaningful combinations.
Sets of coins can run from two pieces to many. In the areas
of rare date and early silver and gold coins we have established
certain sets of special interest. They include the first
and last of an issue, type sets, design sets, year sets,
and those that are joined by historical events such as the
Civil War. The coins of each set are specially selected
for you and your collecting needs.
We are specialists in this
area and will expertly and confidentially help you assemble
a set similar to the one you see below, which is made up
of pieces from the US Rare Coin Investments’ archives.
We will cherry pick through millions of dollars of rare
coins selecting only the finest quality pieces for your
collection.
The
Capped Bust gold half eagles of 1799 had two major
varieties, Large and Small Reverse Stars. The basic
coin, designed by Robert Scot, is the Capped Bust
type with the Large or Heraldic Eagle reverse. The
obverse shows a capped head of Liberty facing right.
Her matronly face is seen in profile.
Her hair puffs out from under her
cap, and a large strand winds around it creating the
look of a turban, hence the sobriquet “Turban
Head.” Her hair is full above her forehead;
it also falls to her shoulder and neck. LIBERTY is
inscribed at the upper right with six-pointed stars
to the right and left. The date is below the truncation.
1799
Half Eagle - The
image shows a Large or Heraldic Eagle half eagle of
1799, the BD-6 with Small Reverse Stars. The 1 of the
date is heavily punched and almost touches Liberty’s
curl, and the second 9 is very close to her drapery.
The numbers are evenly spaced. A large spike from Star
9 points to the bottom of the Y. There is also a spike
upward from Star 10. The reverse has Small Stars in
a nearly perfect cross pattern. Stars 3, 8,9,10, and
11 are in a line. The coin has an R5+ rarity rating.
Approximate
cost: F $4,000; VF $5,250; AU50 $13,000; MS60
$32,500
The
reverse shows a Large or Heraldic Eagle for its main
device. In its right talon the eagle holds a bundle
of arrows. In the left it holds an olive branch. A
scroll across the right wing and neck of the eagle
is inscribed with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. Above
the eagle’s head is a group of stars, which
are below an arc of clouds. The whole is surrounded
by the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, which
is interrupted by the wing tips. At the periphery,
there are dentils on both sides of the coin, and the
edge is reeded.
Scot’s Heraldic or Large Eagle
has been the subject of some controversy because instead
of following the pattern used on the Great Seal of
the United States, Scot reversed the position of the
olive branch and arrows. Held in the right or dexter
claw, the arrows represent defiant militarism. Some
have held that Scot simply made an error; however,
others believe that the change was a deliberate warning
to France and the other European powers to be mindful
of the sovereignty of the United States. At the time
there was a naval war with France known as the Franco-American
or Quasi-War over shipping rights. There is no doubt
that France would have been sensitive to a change
in heraldry such as was done on the coinage of this
time.
1799
Half Eagle - The second pictured coin
shows a Large Eagle half eagle of 1799, the BD-8 with
Large Reverse Stars. The coin has a narrow date. Star
9 touches the right top of the Y in LIBERTY. The reverse
shows Large Stars in an arc pattern. The right foot
of the second A in AMERICA touches the eagle’s
talon. The last S in STATES is over a single cloud and
almost touches it. The coin has an R6 rarity rating.
