Blunt 1 variety.  BD-2, High R-3.

The Capped Bust Right half eagle type was made from 1795 to 1807 but for most collectors, the dates which they focus on for type purposes are the 1800-1807. The 1800 is seen less often than a number of these issues and it becomes rare in properly graded MS63. Examples in MS64 are very rare and Gems are exceedingly rare. The finest I have seen is ex Stack’s 3/05: 1917 (at a whopping $241,500) which is now in a PCGS MS66 holder.

This choice, frosty example is well struck and well made with great luster and rich orange-gold and slightly reddish hues. The obverse has just a slight bit of chatter in the fields; the reverse grades at least MS64 to MS64+ on its own and it is exceptionally choice with satiny luster and no marks of note.

In the last two years only two MS63 1800 half eagles have sold at auction. The most recent was Heritage 10/11: 4859, graded by NGC and approved by CAC, which was nicer than the present example; t brought $29,900. The second was another NGC coin; this sold for $28,175 in Stack’s Bowers 3/11 auction was clearly inferior to the present coin.

If you can find an MS64 1800 half eagle, it is likely to sell for $70,000-80,000, making a solid-for-the-grade MS63 like this one an ideal coin for the type collector who wants a very special example of this beloved early gold type.