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HERITAGE: NORTH STAR COLLECTION OF HALF EAGLESHeritage Auctions will be selling The North Star Collection of $5 Gold US Coins on June 15. Select items are discussed below. -Garrett 
1809/8 $5 BD-1, High R.3, AU55 PCGS. Bass-Dannreuther Die
State b/b. BD-1 is the sole 1809 variety, traditionally described
an overdate, although researchers are divided about the underdigit.
Some suggest an 8, while others believe it is a misplaced 9, and
still others are unconvinced either way. This is a Choice About
Uncirculated example, sharply defined, with still-vibrant
greenish-gold color. Marks are minimal, while plentiful mint luster
remains.
To read the complete item description, see:
1810 $5 Large Date, Large 5, BD-4, R.2, MS62 PCGS.
Bass-Dannreuther Die State a/a. The BD-4 variety is the most
prolific of the early Capped Bust half eagles with an estimated
total mintage from John Dannreuther of 90,000 coins compared to the
total mintage of 100,287 coins in all varieties. While the mintage
was drastic in comparison to the other varieties its survivorship
is miniscule in comparison, with 500-750 known examples or less
than 1% of its initial mintage. This example displays attractive
deep tawny-gold luster with just a note of deepening patina on its
reverse. The strike is excellent with no readily apparent signs of
weakness, and the coin has only a minute mark before Liberty's nose
that is non-debilitating. While the survivorship is less than a
fraction of its initial mintage, the variety has a decent
survivorship in Mint State making this one of the more available
issues for collectors seeking an early date half eagle.
To read the complete item description, see:
1839-C $5 AU53 PCGS. Winter-1. The 1839-C half eagle is
prized for its status a transitional issue in several respects. It
serves as a one-year half eagle design type, featuring Christian
Gobrecht's intended Liberty Head design change with its delicately
curved bust truncation and obverse mintmark replacing the Classic
Head William Kneass design. Gobrecht's work would itself be refined
in 1840 to establish the long-running Liberty Head motif that
served many gold denominations for decades. A small 17,205-piece
1839-C mintage was struck from a single die pair. As few as 150 to
200 pieces survive today in all grades combined. This nearly Choice
About Uncirculated example is a sharply struck orange-gold coin
with only nominal circulation wear and a peppering of tiny marks.
Plentiful mint luster remains throughout both sides. PCGS
Population: 11 in 53, 23 finer (4/26).(Registry values: P5)
To read the complete item description, see:
1841-C $5 MS61 PCGS. Winter 1. The 1841 issue of half
eagles is among the more accessible dates for Charlotte Mint
pieces, but most remain in lower grades and finding a Mint State
example is exceptionally more difficult. This piece displays
remarkably rich tawny-gold luster surrounded by encroaching smokey
patina which wafts into the reflective fields. There are some minor
abrasions, though they are largely negligible with an exception
above the eagle's crown. The strike is immensely appealing with
exceptional depth throughout Liberty's hair, eagle's plumage, and
along the first stars. Between both PCGS and NGC only eight
examples have been reported in MS61 with only five seen numerically
finer than the present coin (4/26). This Charlotte Mint piece will
be a scarce opportunity for Registry collectors as we have only had
the opportunity to offer three (including the present coin) so fine
in 12 years.
To read the complete item description, see:
1847-O $5 AU55 PCGS. Winter-1. The 1847-O is the
rarest half eagle from the New Orleans Mint and just three coins
have been observed in Mint State between both PCGS and NGC. The
issue's rarity is further enhanced by its estimated survivorship:
50-60 pieces according to PCGS, 60 to 70 per Doug Winter. Those
estimates suggest the 98 coins reported by the aforementioned
grading services consist of a litany of duplications. This example
displays soft sandy-gold luster with deeper orange-gold rims. The
strike is excellent with some minor circulation wear within the
fletching and within the hair. This New Orleans issue is seldom
seen finer with just nine such examples reported, and this Choice
AU piece will be an excellent addition for Registry collectors
(4/26).
To read the complete item description, see:
1856-O $5 AU58 PCGS. Winter-2. The 1856-O boasts the lowest
mintage of the Liberty No Motto half eagles produced at the New
Orleans branch mint at just 10,000 strikes. The issue is also tied
with the 1892-O for lowest mintage honors of the New Orleans half
eagle series. As the majority of the issue saw heavy commercial
use, all grades of the 1856-O are conditionally scarce. Obtaining a
Mint State piece is not likely, as PCGS reports only a single half
eagle in MS60 and two examples in MS61, with none finer (4/26).
This 1856-O displays well-struck
devices on bright green-gold surfaces, although typical softness is
seen on the first through third stars and the eagle's neck.
Glimmers of orange and powder-blue luster contrast beautifully with
vestiges of prooflike flash. Liberty and the eagle are remarkably
unabraded, and the fields show only trivial marks and light wear
that account for the grade. This attractive near-Mint half eagle
from the Southern branch mint has only three pieces reported
numerically finer at PCGS (4/26).(Registry values: P7)
To read the complete item description, see:
1864 $5 AU50 PCGS. CAC. Gold and silver mintages declined
dramatically throughout the Civil War, due in large part to
hoarding and melting that was prevalent at the time. The 1864
Liberty half eagle is one in a string of low-mintage P-mint issues
from 1862 to 1872, and was reduced to a production of just 4,170
business-strikes. Most surviving half eagles range from XF45 to
AU55, and PCGS estimates only 60 to 75 surviving coins and reports
only two examples in Mint State (4/26).
To read the complete item description, see:
1890-CC $5 MS63+ PCGS. CAC. Winter 1-A. The 1890-CC mintage
of 53,800 half eagles is challenging in Mint State, becoming
conditionally scarce in MS64 and almost unattainable any finer.
Vibrant green-gold surfaces of this Select half eagle are layered
in frosty peach luster that complements the coruscating fields for
exceptional eye appeal, earning Plus-grade designation. The strike
is slightly soft on Liberty's curls and the eagle's neck feathers,
but elsewhere the devices are sharp. Aside from a nick on the
bottom of Liberty's neck, marks are trivial and not bothersome. CAC
endorsement adds to the appeal of this attractive piece.
To read the complete item description, see:
Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: Subscribe All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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