1805 half eagle for the type set

DonDebbie · April 9, 2012 1:32AM

Hi Baley,

Your half eagle is gorgeous, with impressive details. It will serve you well once you crack it out.

Here is one of our early halves--

CharlotteDude · April 9, 2012 8:01AM

That's a nice looking early Half Eagle for a problem coin... congrats on finding a nice piece. It's by far my favorite design...

'dude

boiler78 · April 9, 2012 8:15AM

Lakesammman · April 9, 2012 11:46AM

Man - nice coins. Thanks for sharing them!!!!!!

HoledandCreative · April 9, 2012 3:56PM

Nice coin, Baley.

The closest I have to 18th century U.S. gold.

JRocco · April 9, 2012 9:39PM

I love when a thread evolves like this one and some of the big guns come out of strong hands for our viewing pleasure.
Some serious coins on display here.
I still like your new acquisition Baley.
Enjoy her for a long time.

Nunfa0 · April 9, 2012 9:45PM

Who cares about the genuine grade? She's beautiful, you obviously love her and thats all that counts

Nunfa0 · April 9, 2012 9:47PM

<< I love when a thread evolves like this one and some of the big guns come out of strong hands for our viewing pleasure.
Some serious coins on display here. >>

I was just thinking the same thing

CharlotteDude · April 10, 2012 1:12AM

Here's a couple more:

'dude

BillJones · April 10, 2012 2:18AM

<< I am definitely going to have to get that book, as I'm a big fan of die varieties and die states, and this new coin has a lot going on (recut rt. wing feathers, a crack or engraving line off one of the leaves, etc.)

My only other early gold is this piece purchased about 10 years ago, I'd like to get more pre-1834 gold, someday, hopefully before another decade goes by

Thanks for showing your early half eagles, they're all really great coins, and each unique in character, please post more of them! >>

Unfortunately after the Capped Bust, Heraldic Eagle (1795-1807) and Capped Bust left (1807-1812) it only gets harder. The next most common type is the 1813 half eagle. I've narrowed it to that one date for the Capped Head to the Left, Large Diameter (1813 to 1829). If it were not for the 1813, that type would be a "super bear" like the Reduced Diameter 1829 to 1834. People that that the 1818 half eagle is some obtainable, but I never saw any of them at the shows when I was looking for that type.

BTW your 1812 half eagle looks like it's a wonderful coin. It beats the devil out of mine.

Ahrensdad · April 10, 2012 2:27AM

So you were the one that snagged that away from me. Congrats! It's a nice looking coin.

Baley · April 10, 2012 4:46AM

<< So you were the one that snagged that away from me. Congrats! It's a nice looking coin. >>

Yes, Ahrensdad, I'm sorry about that, but admit that when I saw your post that you had PM'd about it, and read all the nice things folks said about the coin looking AU (at least, before the "Gennie" reveal) that I felt better about making what was, for me, the second largest coin purchase ever (the largest being the 1812 for about 50% more than this 1805)

Yes, Bill, I realize it only gets tougher from here, as both the early quarter eagles and $10 eagles are significant stoppers, or at least, stallers.

Fortunately, the rarer and more expensive the coin, the more I'm willing to compromise to acquire a presentable example, as I am more willing than most to accept minor problems rather than continue to go without.

that said, it will be a long time before I'm ready to step up to the early gold plate again, so keep the pics coming! Definitely some seriously nice coins in this thread!

Baley · April 12, 2012 2:31AM

<< 
The closest I have to 18th century U.S. gold.

>>

Another coin where you get 98% of the detail (edit: and almost all of the gold), at a fraction of the price. Very nice!

SkyMan · April 12, 2012 3:07AM

Great looking coin Baley! Congrats on picking up some old gold.

BillJones · April 12, 2012 5:29AM

<< Yes, Bill, I realize it only gets tougher from here, as both the early quarter eagles and $10 eagles are significant stoppers, or at least, stallers. >>

The quarter eagles are the real killers. The easiest one is the Capped Bust, Heraldic Eagle type (1796 - 1807). When I acquired one of those in the late 1980s, I thought I had really done something. Then I started looking for the others and found out the bitter truth. Everyone knows about the 1796 No Stars and the 1808, but the Capped Bust, large diameter (1821 - 1827) is a real snake in the grass. You don't know how hard it is to find one until you start looking. The Capped Bust reduced diameter is tough too, but I think that it's not as hard as the previous type.

Nysoto · April 12, 2012 5:41AM

The first example I bought of the type was raw, has a couple of small rim bumps and a reverse dig, but has deep original color. At about a third of the price of "problem free." I love the coin and there is no reason to trade up for the date:

CharlotteDude · April 13, 2012 11:25PM

Here's a couple more...

'dude

boiler78 · April 13, 2012 11:41PM

AnkurJ · April 13, 2012 11:41PM

Here are mine:

boiler78 · April 13, 2012 11:43PM

yellowkid · April 13, 2012 11:47PM

I don't have any early gold

But thanks for posting yours, it is a beauty!!!

BillJones · April 13, 2012 11:59PM

This picture better represents the appearance of my 1808 $2.50.

RevDrBlimber · April 14, 2012 12:26AM

I was at the Westchester coin show in White Plains yesterday; Don Hosier of D and E Coins had a few nice mint-state early Bust $5 pieces, certified; I did not see any other certified examples on the bourse floor.

Shamika · April 14, 2012 1:59AM

Wonderful purchase Baley. Acquiring a dream coin from your childhood is a great moment to be sure.

Baley · August 5, 2012 3:50AM

Thanks Shamika!

Can you imagine all the coins in this thread, laid out on one table? That would be a sight

RYK · August 5, 2012 4:04AM

Congrats on the purchase (I was on sabbatical when you originally posted it). It has long been my favorite US coin design.

Here's my current crop of early gold:

jmski52 · August 5, 2012 5:21AM

I'm glad I opened this thread. Nice coins!

Baley · May 25, 2015 5:13AM

<< I'm glad I opened this thread. Nice coins! >>

No kidding, those are some real beauties! Wonderful coins all, thanks for posting

Boosibri · May 25, 2015 6:29AM

<< 

<< I'm glad I opened this thread. Nice coins! >>

No kidding, those are some real beauties! Wonderful coins all, thanks for posting >>

Well at least if you are going to necropost it is a thread about early gold!

coinlieutenant · May 25, 2015 8:21AM

Awesome Baley!

Will go nicely with your 1812, no?

Baley · September 25, 2019 8:57AM

@Boosibri said:

I'm glad I opened this thread. Nice coins!

No kidding, those are some real beauties! Wonderful coins all, thanks for posting >>

Well at least if you are going to necropost it is a thread about early gold!

Well then, why not one more?
Maybe some our newer members would enjoy so many great coins in one place
old thread alert