1809/8 Capped Bust Left Half Eagle
The challenging Capped Bust Left half eagle series was issued only from 1807 through 1812. There is just one die marriage known for 1809; the overdate status is questionable as the fragment within the lower loop of the 9 does not precisely match the expected shape of an 8. Nor does this variety appear to be an 1809/9 repunched date, although a misplaced 9 does seem to be the more likely candidate. The estimated mintage of this issue is 20,000 to 33,875 pieces (per John W. Dannreuther, 2006), and survivors number no more than 350 coins in all grades.
The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the D. Brent Pogue Part III Auction, where it realized $152,750.