1807 CAPPED BUST
FIVE DOLLARS OR HALF EAGLE
(compare with
1807 Turban Head Half Eagle)

PCGS No: 8101

Mintage:
Circulation strikes: 51,605
Proofs: 0

Designer: John Reich

Diameter: ±25 millimeters

Metal content:
Gold - 91.7%
Silver and Copper - 8.3%

Weight: 135 grains (8.748 grams)

Edge: Reeded

Mintmark: None (all dates of this type were struck at the Philadelphia mint)

Notes:
1807 saw two Half Eagle designs: the "Turban Head" type of earlier years (with the bust of Liberty facing right), and a new design by John Reich featuring a Capped Bust of Liberty facing left.  Although scarce, the 1807 Capped Bust Half Eagles is readily available in most grades, even up through MS-64.  In Gem and better conditions, this date becomes incredibly rare.  The finest examples certified by PCGS are 5 MS-64's, a full two points ahead of the next contender.

Images courtesy of Heritage Numismatic Auctions

Significant examples:
PCGS MS-67.  Ex - Sotheby's sale of the John Moores (owner of the San Diego Padres baseball team) collection, November 1999, Lot 78, "PCGS MS-67" at $121,000.00

PCGS MS-65.  Ex - "Long Beach Connoisseur Collection" - Auctions by Bowers & Merena, Inc.'s "The Rarities Sale", August 9, 1999, Lot 390, "Breen-6453, B-5D...PCGS MS-65" at $59,800.00

Recent appearances:
PCGS MS-65.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Philadelphia 2000 Signature Sale", August 6-7, 2000, Lot 7213, "B-5d", illustrated, sold for $41,515.00

PCGS MS-64.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Philadelphia 2000 Signature Sale", August 6-7, 2000, Lot 7212, "B-5d", illustrated, sold for $17,825.00

NGC AU-58.  Ex- Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "October 2000 Long Beach Sale" October 5-7, 2000, Lot 7590, "B-5D, Miller-101", illustrated, not sold

AU-55.  Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries' Robert W. Schwan Collection Sale, October 26-27, 2000, Lot 2320, "Breen-6543, B-5D" at $2,070.00

AU-55.  Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries, "The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part IV Sale", November 20-21, 2000, Lot 318, "Breen-5E", illustrated, sold for $4,025.00  Purchased from Paramount, May 28, 1970

A strong Extremely Fine, nearly About Uncirculated, Lightly Cleaned"  Ex - Stack's "65th Anniversary Sale", October 17-19, 2000, Lot 1723, Breen 5-D, Miller 101", plated, sold for $1,725.00

Net Fine-12.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "The California Sale", October 2-3, 2000, Lot 887, "Breen-5E, Rarity 6+" at $1,150.00

Varieties (2 known):
Breen 5-D - Scarce (illustrated above and below)
Breen 5-E - Very Rare (same obverse as Breen 5-D; the reverse differs in that the D of UNITED is much closer to the eagle's wingtip).

Sources and/or recommended reading:
"Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia Of U.S. And Colonial Coins" by Walter Breen

"The PCGS Population Report, July 2003" by The Professional Coin Grading Service