1834 $5 Classic Head, Plain 4 MS(PCGS#8171)

The March 2013 Baltimore Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

2161

等级

MS65

价格

274,981

详细说明

1834 Classic Half Eagle. Breen-6502. Second Head, Small Plain 4. MS-65 * (NGC). This memorable Gem 1834 Classic half eagle has nice color, reflective fields, and frosty motifs. Adding to the desirability is excellent strike and sharpness and its high position among NGC certified issues. The present coin exceeds the MS-64 example we sold as lot 7675 in our 2011 Chicago ANA Sale, which realized $13,800 when the dust had settled.<br /> A reduction in the weight of the half eagle from 8.75 grams to 8.36 grams occurred in the Act of June 28, 1834, and was done to discourage hoarding and to allow the half eagle denomination to circulate once again. The weight change corresponded with a change in design and the introduction of the Classic Head type, which would remain current only through 1838. The type is fairly scarce in all high Mint State grade due to the brevity of the series. Those that do exist are usually dated 1834 with Plain 4, as here. There was little numismatic interest at the time and few if any were saved by collectors. The formation of the Mint Cabinet was still several years away in 1838.;<br /> The Classic Head type by Chief Engraver William Kneass was hardly original and was simply a modification of that created by John Reich and used on half cents beginning in 1809 and large copper cents beginning in 1808. The new type did not last long, and by 1840 all three gold denominations then being produced were of Gobrecht's new Liberty Head type. A reduction in the weight of the half eagle from 8.75 grams to 8.36 grams in the Act of June 28, 1834 was done to discourage hoarding and allow this denomination to circulate once again. The weight change corresponded with a change in design and the introduction of the Classic type, which would remain current only through 1838. Scarce in all Mint State grades due to the brevity of the series, most Classic half eagles obtained for high grade type purposes are examples of the first year 1834 issue of the Plain 4 date log