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Images courtesy of
David Akers Numismatics, Inc.
Varieties:
Type of 1838: Large Letters on Reverse (illustrated below)
Type of 1840:
Small
Letters on Reverse
(illustrated above)
Notes:
The 1839 Eagle is found in two
major varieties: Head of 1838 and Head of 1840. The 1839 “Head of 1838”
is actually an overdate, created when a 9 was punched over the final 8 of
a leftover 1838 dated working die. The Head of 1838 is distinctly
different from those of later years and should actually be listed as a
separate sub-Type. The most obvious differences can be seen in the shape
of the bust and the arc of the truncation line. One the “Head of 1838”,
the tip of the bust is more rounded in appearance and the truncation line
has a high arch. On the “Head of 1840” (which first appeared in 1839),
the tip of the bust is less rounded and the arc of the truncation line is
flatter. The finest 1839 Eagle graded by PCGS is a single MS-66. The
finest example graded by NGC is a single MS-64.
Proof 1839
Eagles are extreme rarities. PCGS has graded only 1 example, a single
Proof-60. NGC has graded 2 Proof examples, both Proof-67 Ultra Cameo and
both ex-Eliasberg (since Eliasberg had only one
example, these are clearly duplicate submissions of the same coin).
Significant examples:
See individual varieties
Recent appearances:
See individual varieties
Sources and/or recommended
reading:
"The PCGS Population Report, July 2003" by The
Professional Coin Grading Service
"The NGC Census Report, April
2003" by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation
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