1795 Small Eagle Draped Bust Gold Half Eagle NGC AU58
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1795 Small Eagle Draped Bust
Gold Half Eagle NGC/PCGS AU58
- Mintage: 8,707 (500 to 600 known)
- NGC Population: 54/65
- PCGS Population: 57/86
- Collector's Universe Price Guide: $100,000
- Smithsonian Specimen: MS62
- Finest Known: MS66 (1) – Last sold in 2015, for $587,500. A MS64+ has since sold for $552,000.
- Half Eagles were the very first gold coins produced by the United States Mint on July 31, 1795, featuring a small eagle on the original reverse.
- In 1797, Scot replaced the Small Eagle reverse with the Heraldic Eagle design, an adaptation of the Great Seal. His new reverse featured a less regal bird than that on the Great Seal with the Union Shield on its breast.
- Thirteen to sixteen stars, representing the original states and three new ones formed after independence, are enclosed by an arc of clouds that sits above the eagle with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounding the border.
- There are Half Eagles dates 1795 with a Large Heraldic Eagle but these are later issues produced in 1798 using older obverse dies dated 1795, this was not an uncommon practice during the U.S. Mint's infancy.
- All Draped Bust Half Eagles with the Small Eagle reverse are great rarities and it is the first year of issue that is the most attainable amongst them. Between the other Small Eagle $5s only another 200 or so pieces exist.
- Nevertheless, only a few hundred exist today in any condition and although a decent number have survived in Uncirculated condition, they still trade at a premium due to the immense collector demand.
- It’s been several years since a MS60 has sold but the last MS61 example to sell realized approximately $200,000 in 2022. Meanwhile the last NGC AU58 specimen to trade was also in 2022, for just shy of $100,000.