1795 Capped Bust Right Eagle. BD-1, Taraszka-1. Rarity-3+. 13 Leaves. EF Details--Reverse Repaired (NGC).
This minimally circulated piece retains bold definition to all major design elements and nearly complete denticulation around both sides. The surfaces are dressed in even honey-gold color with a tinge of deep orange. They are a bit glossy in texture with light hairlining from an old cleaning. More significant, however, is an area of smoothing in the lower reverse field below the branch that explains the NGC qualifier. Given the rich history and understandable allure of this first year $10 gold issue, this is a satisfying representative that has much to recommend it to budget minded type collectors. The large and impressive gold eagle served as the benchmark gold denomination for the fledgling United States' monetary system. Thirty three millimeters in diameter, the first eagles made at the Philadelphia Mint are visually striking. Designed by Robert Scot, the Small Eagle reverse type was only used for three years and was replaced in 1797 by the Heraldic Eagle reverse. The mintage of 1795-dated examples is subject to debate; the number of eagles delivered during calendar year 1795 is recorded as 5,583 pieces, but this does not include the likelihood that a significant quantity of 1795-dated coins were also made in 1796. While this is the mintage figure that is generally reported for the date, detailed studies by John Dannreuther (published 2006) indicate that the actual mintage for all 1795-dated eagles is probably between 5,859 and 10,915 coins. Four of the five die marriages used bear a reverse that has 13 leaves on the palm frond held in the eagle's talons. The BD-1 die pair, as here, is characterized by having the obverse die where the tip of the digit 5 in the date overlays the bottom of the bust, while on the reverse the eighth palm leaf is close to the letter U in UNITED. Dannreuther estimates that somewhere between 2,795 and 5,583 eagles were struck from this die pairing. With about 325 coins believed extant in all grades, BD-1 is the most available variety of the issue and enjoys strong demand from type collectors at all levels of preservation.
PCGS# 8551. NGC ID: 25ZU.

Estimate: $15000