1795
Half Eagle - 1799 Half Eagle - Capped Bust Gold Half Eagle Two
Coin Set (Small and Heraldic Eagle)
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 were minted
from 1795 to 1807. Like the gold eagle for this time period,
there are two types, the Small and Large or Heraldic Eagle
reverse. Designed by Robert Scot, the common 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.
The
first reverse is the Small Eagle that was minted from
1795 to 1798. It shows a small, unrealistic eagle perched
on a palm branch. The eagle’s wings are outstretched
and its head is turned to the right. In its beak is
a small wreath of laurel. The inscription UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA surrounds the design, interrupted by the
wing tips. At the periphery, there are dentils on both
sides of the coin, and the edge is reeded.
1795
Half Eagle - The
pictured coin is a Small Eagle half eagle of 1795, the
BD-10 variety. It has a narrow date with the 1 almost
touching Liberty’s hair. The tip of the 5 is on
top of the drapery. The tip of Star 1 overlaps a curl,
and a ray of Star 10 points to and almost touches Liberty’s
cap. On the reverse there are four berries, two on each
side. The coin has an R5 rarity value.
Approximate
cost: F $20,000; VF $25,000; AU50 $40,000;
MS60 $85,000
The
second reverse, minted from 1797 to 1807, has the 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 image shows a Large
or Heraldic Eagle half eagle of 1799, the BD-1 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
Interested
in working with us in purchasing a set like this? CONTACT
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