1796 $10 MS(PCGS#8554)

August 2023 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

5141

等级

MS61

价格

1,223,331

详细说明

Significant Mint State 1796 Small Eagle $10 Elusive Small Eagle Type 1796 Capped Bust Right Eagle. BD-1, Taraszka-6, the only known dies. Rarity-4. MS-61 (PCGS). Vivid deep olive-gold color backlights warmer rose-apricot iridescence on both sides of this vivid and beautiful early eagle. The finish is appreciably prooflike with the fields revealing plenty of reflectivity under a light. Wispy handling marks are noted here and there, none of which are worthy of individual mention, and a touch of haziness to the reverse is also easily forgiven at the assigned grade level. The strike is impressive by the standards of the early United States Mint, the impression nicely centered on both sides within boldly and uniformly denticulated borders. The stars, branch and wreath are sharp, and Liberty's portrait and the eagle's plumage are full apart from trivial softness to the central high points that is largely the result of the mint-made adjustment marks concentrated on the eagle's breast and legs. BD Die State c/b. The Small Eagle reverse was used on the $10 gold piece for only three years and was not produced in any large quantity. The 1796 eagle is no exception; according to Mint records 4,146 pieces were delivered that calendar year, though this almost certainly includes a number of 1795-dated eagles. Precisely how many were actually dated 1796 remains to be discovered, John W. Dannreuther in his 2006 study, Early U.S. Gold Coin Varieties: A Study of Die States, 1795-1834, has estimated the mintage of the 1796-dated issue at 3,500 to 4,146 pieces, all struck from a single die pair. One distinguishing feature is the use of 16 stars on the obverse signifying the admission of Tennessee into the Union on June 1, 1796, indicating that these few coins were all struck after that date. The 1796 eagle is also the first of two issues with only 11 leaves on the reverse branch in the eagle's claw; the earlier 1795-dated varieties all display either nine or 13 leaves on the branch. Just 125 to 175 examples are believed extant in all grades, few of which are at or near the Mint State level. This sharp and thoroughly appealing Uncirculated survivor of a classic early gold rarity is a delight to behold. PCGS# 8554. NGC ID: BFYM. Click here for certification details from PCGS.