RARE AND CHOICE 1804 SMALL 8 HALF EAGLE, PCGS/CAC MS63+

BD-1, High R-4. Normal 8, Small 4.

1804 is a very interesting year for half eagle variety collectors. There are no less than seven varieties known and this includes a number of impressive naked-eye issues. As a date,  the 1804 is less rare than the 1805 but it is more difficult to locate than the 1800, 1802/1 and 1803/2. The 1804 Small 8 is a popular Redbook variety and it is rare in properly graded MS63, extremely rare in MS64 and it appears to be unknown in MS65.

This is among the finest 1804 Small 8 half eagles I have seen and I believe it qualifies in the Condition Census for the issue. It is well struck and frosty with rich natural medium orange-gold toning atop very choice surfaces. A few shallow reverse adjustment marks are noted but these are not detracting. Were it not for an old, shallow vertical line on the cheek of Liberty this coin would almost certainly have graded MS64 and it blows away the pieces I have seen in "straight" MS63 holders.

The last 1804 Small 8 half eagle to sell at auction brought $25,300 in January 2009 and only three have sold in total since 1999. This is the only CAC approved to be offered in many years.

The 1804 date is magical to collectors of early US coinage and this is an impressive 1804 Small 8 which is nice enough for a world-class set of early half eagles.

CAC has approved five in this grade with three finer.

Ex ANR 7/05: 218 (as PCGS MS63) where it realized $26,450.

FROM THE WESTERN SPRINGS II COLLECTION