REALLY NICE 1814/3 HALF EAGLE

Some collectors lump in the 1814/3 with the 1813 as a “common date” in the elusive Large Diameter Capped Head Left half eagle design type, which was made from 1813 through 1829. This clearly is not the case, as this date is comparable to issues such as the 1820 and the 1823.

Around 100 or so exist with most in the AU55 to MS62 range. In MS63, the 1814/3 is rare, and in MS64 it is extremely rare. I have never seen a Gem and—come to think of it—I can’t recall more than two MS64 coins that I really liked. Stack's Bowers sold a very PQ OGH/Rattler PCGS/CAC MS63 for a record-setting $78,000 as 11/2023: 3164.

I tried to upgrade this coin to an MS63 for close to a year and—in all honesty—I still feel that on the right day it could wind-up in said holder. The surfaces are very clean for an MS62 and unlike nearly every 1814/3 half eagle I’ve ever seen, this piece has natural color with very nice medium buttercup-gold hues on either side. Despite being struck from notably clashed dies, the detail is sharp at the centers with some weakness noted on stars seven through nine. A small mark at the center of the truncation serves as quick identification.

The aforementioned PCGS/CAC MS63 is the only comparable 1814/3 half eagle to sell in the last decade+.

The PCGS population for this date is 15 in MS62, two in MS63+, 12 in MS63, four in MS64, and a single coin in MS64+.

Collectors Universe Price Guide is $52,500 in MS62+, and a too-low $60,000 in MS63.

As a type collector, I would much prefer this scarce issue to a ho-hum 1813 in MS63, which is about five times more available than the 1814/3.

CAC has approved eight in MS62 (with at least this one coin in MS62+ with five finer (three in mS63 and two in MS64).

Ex Stack's Bowers 6/2025: 2358, where I purchased this coin directly for $42,000.

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