1803/2 $5 BD-1, Imperfect T AU58 认证号45986170, PCGS号504948

Ron Guth

All 1803 Half Eagles are overdates, created by punching a 3 over the 2 on two different 1802 dies.  One obverse has a missing right foot on the T of LIBERTY and was used on varieties BD-1, BD-2, and BD-3.  The other obverse has a perfect T and was used only on variety BD-4.  As if the BD-1 variety is not interesting enough, it shares a reverse with 1802/1 BD-7, some of which were struck AFTER the 1803/2 BD-1.

The 1803/2 BD-1 is fairly plentiful; Dannreuther called it Rarity 4 (150-200 known), which seems reasonable.  We know of at least ten Mint State examples, ranging in grade from NGC MS61 to PCGS MS65.  The finest example of which we are aware is a PCGS MS65 from a 2007 Heritage sale.  Virtually every example we have seen shows a soft strike on the bundle of arrows on the reverse; others show a very weak shield.  A notable exception is the PCGS AU53 illustrated above, which shows both a strong strike and a terminal rim cud over the UN of UNITED.  Adjustment marks are also an occasional problem.