Lot 3287 in the Rarities Night session at our August 2016 ANA World’s Fair of Money auction is a gorgeous Mint State 1801 Capped Bust $10. While its mintage of 44,344 coins is the highest mintage of the Capped Bust Right series, circulation and mishandling of Uncirculated coins has severely limited the population of attractive Mint State survivors available to collectors.
Just
two known die pairings were used to produce 1801-dated eagles, suggesting that
the generous mintage figure may include some 1799 and/or 1800-dated pieces. The
BD-1 variety is very scarce, assigned a rarity factor of 5 in the
Bass-Dannreuther text, while the BD-2 pairing is considered to be Rarity-2,
with 600 to 800 estimated survivors.
This
1801 BD-2 eagle is predominantly toned in a vibrant lemon-yellow hue with faint
amber accenting the peripheries in some areas. The fields are lightly
reflectivity on each side and remain unmarred by distracting abrasions. The
devices are smooth and attractive throughout. Rich mint frost is noted within
the recessed regions of the design elements, with the highest points mostly
glossy.
Obverse
definition is largely sharp, despite softness to star 1 and the lower portion
of the digit 0 in the date. A collection of nine “vertical spines” (as
Harry Bass called them), radiates through the middle of Liberty’s cap and
serves as a diagnostic to this variety. The central elements on the reverse are
nicely defined, exhibiting traces of softness toward the peripheries and
revealing planchet striations concentrated at the upper border. The eye appeal
and technical merit of the present piece are superlative, certainly
transcending the quality typically associated with the associated grade. For
fans of early U.S. type and early gold specialists, this example is deserving
of close inspection and consideration.
This
impressive piece will be offered alongside numerous other treasures in the
Rarities Night session of our August 2016 ANA World’s Fair of Money Auction in
Anaheim, California. To obtain your copy of the catalog or consign your
rarities to a future showcase event, please contact our offices today at
1-800-458-4646 to speak with a Consignment Director and see what Stack’s Bowers
Galleries can do for you.
