IMPRESSIVE BORDERLINE GEM 1813 HALF EAGLE, PCGS/CAC MS64

BD-1, R-3.

The 1813 is the closest thing there is to being a “common” date in the Capped Head Right half eagle type of 1813-1829. It is seen with some regularity in grades through MS63, but it is scarce in properly graded MS64 and finer.

This coin is fresh to the market and I purchased it in a dealer-only bid sale a few months ago where there was a similar quality 1813 half eagle that regraded as MS64+; it just brought in excess of $65,000 in the June Heritage sale. This example is about as original a coin as you are likely to see for this type with rich russet colors on both sides and blazing mint luster beneath. There are a few really minor scuffs in the obverse fields which are likely what kept this piece from grading MS64+, but I tried it a number of times at PCGS in hope of securing the plus add-on.

The last two auction records for a CAC approved PCGS MS64 1813 half eagle are $64,625 for Heritage 2017 FUN: 5870 and $70,500 for Heritage 2016 FUN: 5582.

No PCGS MS65 example of this important first-year issue has been offered for sale at auction in years (since 1991, in fact) and if one were available, it would cost well in excess of $100,000. The finest known, graded MS66+ by PCGS, sold for a remarkable $316,250 all the way back in early 2007.

This is a choice and very significant early gold coin.

CAC has approved 17 in this grade with 4 finer.

DWN collects sales tax when appropriate.