1798 $5 BD-4, Large 8 VF35 认证号54892498, PCGS号507324

Ron Guth

BD-4 is one of the Heraldic Eagle, Large 8 varieties with 13 stars on the reverse.  Dannreuther called it "the most available of 1798 Large Eagle coins" but it is still a very scarce variety.  Later states of the reverse die show rim cuds at ES of STATES and the O of OF.  

The strike quality of this variety is usually soft, particularly in the centers.  We have yet to see a fully struck example, but there are a few that show most of the shield lines.  Adjustment marks are rarely seen, but a PCGS MS63 example exists with rather extensive pre-strike filing on the reverse.  

High quality 1798 $5 BD-4's are very rare.  The PCGS CoinFacts Condition Census of the top ten examples includes seven Mint State pieces, most of which are low-end Uncs.  The star of this variety is an NGC MS64 example that sold in 2011 for a record $155,250.  Another top example is in the Core Collection at the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation Collection at the American Numismatic Association.