This year introduces a new master hub for the reverse dies on federal gold coins. This hub differs from its predecessor of 1796 by showing the eagle with a shorter neck, no tongue, and better definition to the clouds and scroll lettering. Additional changes include six vertical stripes in the shield, each defined by three fine lines rather than a single thick line. Open areas start and end an alternating pattern for a total of 13 shield elements in honor of the original colonies. The eagle has a single claw over the arrows, a single claw over the branch, and three rows of tail feathers. This new master hub also represents the first appearance of the arc star arrangement over the eagle, although two other reverse dies are known with a hybrid of the star cross design and the arc star arrangement, notably those of the 1798 BD-1 and 1804 BD-2 14-Star Reverse quarter eagles.

The mintage for the 1798 BD-2 variety is believed to have constituted between 480 and 838 coins of the 1,094 pieces reportedly struck bearing this date. A mere 45 to 55 survivors are accounted for in numismatic hands, confirming this as one of many very scarce die varieties in the early quarter eagle series. Examples are usually offered only in significant auctions, typically those representing the sale of great collections.