RARE BORDERLINE GEM PCGS/CAC MS64 1805 HALF EAGLE

BD-1, R-3. Perfect 1, Close Date.

There are five die varieties of the 1805 half eagle. Variety collectors generally seek a Close Date and a Wide Date for their set. As a date, the 1805 is considerably harder to locate than the 1802/1, 1803/2, 1806 Round 6 and 1807 Bust Right. It is scarce in MS63, rare in properly graded MS64 and virtually unobtainable in MS65. The Pogue: 2086 coin, which I didn't especially like as an MS65, realized $164,500.

This is likely one of the finest known 1805 half eagles and it is clearly the best currently available to advanced date collectors. It is very well struck (save for the left obverse star radials and the upper right portion of the shield) and the luster is really impressive for this issue with thick mint frost seen on either side. The color is a lovely soft medium green-gold which is completely natural. Other than a few tiny scuffs in the left obverse field, this piece is immaculate and it wouldn't look out of place in a 64+ holder.

Another PCGS/CAC MS64 1805 half eagle sold for $63,250 as Heritage 5/12: 4967 and a nice piece lacking CAC approval was bid up to $66,125 as Stacks Bowers 2011 ANA: 7656. The current record price for a PCGS MS64 1805 half eagle is $69,000 set by Heritage 2010 ANA: 3478; that piece lacked CAC approval.

In my opinion, this is the single most important of the eight coins being offered in this collection. The 1805 half eagle is essentially unavailable finer than this and if a really nice MS65 were to turn up, I would expect it to bring close to--if not more than--$200,000.

CAC has approved just three in this grade and one finer (MS65).

Ex: Goldberg 2/08: 2362 (as NGC/CAC MS64) where it sold for $55,200 which is currently a record price for this date in NGC MS64.

FROM THE WESTERN SPRINGS II COLLECTION