Early Half Eagles 1830 $5 Large 5D, BD-1, R.6 MS63 Prooflike

Early Half Eagles
1830 $5 Large 5D, BD-1, R.6 MS63 Prooflike PCGS. Ex: Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection. Bass-Dannreuther Die State. The reported 1830 half eagle mintage exceeded 125,000 pieces, yet only two die varieties are known -- one with a large D in 5D, and one with a smaller D. Surviving examples are about equally scarce for either variant, with the Large D die marriage slightly scarcer than the Small D. An estimated 25 to 35 Large D pieces are known in all grades. This is a well-contrasted prooflike example, with frosted raised elements set against flashy mirrored fields. Scattered light abrasions and hairlines account for the Select Uncirculated numeric grade.
A sharp strike reveals recutting on several stars and on numerous letters in the reverse legend. The date shows anomalies in the numerals too, but this is not recutting according to John Dannreuther. He notes:

"All half eagles of 1830 (only one obverse used with two reverse dies) are overdates. Both Bass examples are clear 1830/29's with the curl of the 2 visible in the bottom of the 3 and the 9 clearly visible to both the left of the 0, and the right (the curve of the 9 is very evident on both 1830 Bass coins). Kneass (or Eckfeldt, or someone else) did an incredible job of punching the 30 exactly over the 29, making this discovery difficult ... it is just like the Bust dime 1830/29 overdates and was done with extreme care!"

A speckling of cloud-gray patina accompanies orange accents that embellish the prevailing antique-gold coloration that graces the coin. Liberty's portrait and the fully feathered eagle are virtually mark-free; each is boldly rendered. This example was acquired by Harry Bass from Stack's Alto Collection Auction in December 1970, and the coin has not been seen at auction since that time -- a span of more than 50 years. Here is an underrated date and variety in the series, seldom seen and the only 1830 Large D owned by Harry Bass to fill its slot in the Core Collection. Be sure to bid accordingly.

A Roster of Significant Examples provided by Ron Guth of the Numismatic Detective Agency
1. MS66 PCGS. Waldo C. Newcomer Collection; B. Max Mehl, sold privately; "Colonel" E.H.R. Green Collection; Abner Kreisberg, sold privately in 6/1959; David W. Akers, sold privately in 1/1989; D. Brent Pogue Collection, Part IV (Stack's Bowers & Sotheby's, 5/2016), lot 4038, $305,500.
2. MS65 PCGS. November Baltimore (Bowers and Merena, 11/2009), lot 3685, $241,500.
3. MS65 NGC. New York ANA (Superior, 8/2002), lot 2000, $80,500.
4. MS64 PCGS. Richard C. Jewell (American Numismatic Rarities, 3/2005), lot 681, $106,375; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2007), lot 3539, $126,500.
5. MS64 PCGS. Rarities Sale (Bowers and Merena, 8/2004), lot 1507, $89,700.
6. MS63 PCGS CAC. Lorin G. Parmelee Collection (New York Coin & Stamp Co., 6/1890), lot 996, $36; Mumford, Kalbfleisch, and Hayden Collections (New York Coin & Stamp Co., 4/1896), lot 538, $41; John M. Clapp Collection; John H. Clapp Collection, sold intact via Stack's in 1942; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 10/1982), lot 389, $18,700; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2000), lot 7524, $33,925; Hutchinson Collection, Part II (Heritage, 4/2017), lot 4259, $123,375; McCoy Family Collection (Heritage, 8/2020), lot 4002, $108,000; D.L. Hansen Collection.
7. MS63 Prooflike PCGS. Alto Collection (Stack's, 12/1970), lot 137; Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection; Harry W. Bass Research Foundation (HBCC-3156). The present coin.
8. MS63 PCGS. James A. Stack, Sr. Collection (Stack's, 10/1994), lot 1070, $39,600; Pre-Long Beach (Superior, 5/2001), lot 4047, not sold.
9. MS62 NGC. Alex Shuford Collection (Abe Kosoff, 5/1968), lot 1959; FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/1998), lot 7779, $26,450; Logan & Steinberg Collections (Bowers and Merena, 11/2002), lot 3238, $36,800.
10. MS62 Uncertified (grade per Jeff Garrett). Josiah K. Lilly Collection, donated intact in 1968 by Lilly's estate to the National Numismatic Collection in exchange for a $5.5 million tax credit; National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution (ID #NU.68.159.0201).

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