1808 $5 MS(PCGS#8102)

Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

5216

Grade

AU50

Price

9,150

Lot Description

BD Die State b/e. Four different marriages combining three obverse dies and two reverse dies were employed to coin at least 55,578 half eagles in 1808. Two of these marriages bear overdates and two have normal dates. These are roughly divided evenly in terms of overall market availability, with the edge given to the normal date varieties. The key characteristic between the two reverse dies is the spacing between the 5 and D in the denomination. The BD-3 reverse has a well balanced, even spacing particular to this die, which was first used in 1807. Several hundred examples are known of all die varieties combined, with only 100 to 125 of the BD-3 die pair believed extant (per John W. Dannreuther, 2006). No early gold half eagles can be considered common, especially in attractive About Uncirculated and Mint State preservation, and this lightly circulated example retains plenty of sharp strike detail to tempt the gold type collector.