1795 FIVE DOLLARS
OR HALF EAGLE -
Plain Eagle on Reverse
(see also 1795 Half Eagle -
Eagle and Shield on Reverse)

PCGS No: 8066

Mintage:
Circulation strikes: 8,707
Proofs: 0

Designer: Robert Scot

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 Philadelphia)

Notes:
The finest Uncirculated examples graded by PCGS are 2 MS-65's.

Images courtesy of Superior Galleries

Varieties:

Significant examples:
PCGS MS-65 (illustrated above).  Superior 03/2001: 798, $212,750.00, "...Roughness in the die at the first two stars and 1 of the date was caused by rust on the die.  An NGC MS-65 (small mark to the left of the eagle's neck, holder #676945-001) was offered in our February 2000 National Money Show auction.  This coin is marginally superior and has greater visual appeal due to its more vibrant surface."

Recent appearances:
NGC MS-62.  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Benson Collection, Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 3999, "B-1b", illustrated, sold for $51,750.00

PCGS MS-62.  Superior Galleries' "The ANA 2001 National Money Show Auction", March 8-9, 2001, Lot 799, "S over D in States, Breen-6414", unsold

PCGS MS-62.  Superior Galleries' "The ANA 2001 National Money Show Auction", March 8-9, 2001, Lot 800, "Four berries, Breen-6412, second S in STATES over D", sold for $40,250.00

NGC MS-60.  Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s, "Summer 2001 Long Beach Signature Sale", May 31-June 2, 2001, Lot 8928, "B-1b, Miller-2", plated, sold for $24,150.00

AU-58 Cleaned. Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "October 2000 Long Beach Sale" October 5-7, 2000, Lot 7105, "B-2c, Miller-4, R.4", illustrated, $12,650.00

AU-58 Digs, lightly cleaned.  Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Long Beach Signature Sale", May 31-June 2, 2001, Lot 6017, "B-4d", plated, not sold

PCGS AU-55.  William Walser - Bowers 7/ 2002: 766, illustrated, "Breen-6412, Breen-1B..., $18,400.00

AU-55.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Cabinet of Lucien M. LaRiviere, Part II", March 15-17, 2001, Lot 112, "Breen-6422, Breen-5W", $41,400.00

About Uncirculated (illustrated below).  Rogers collection.

About Uncirculated.  Merkin 11/1965:349 - Marvin Teichert - Stack's 5/ 2001: 19, "Breen-2c, Miller-4", plated, $26,450.00

About Uncirculated, displaying two trivial obverse rim bruises which hardly detract.  Stack's 10/ 2000, Lot
1717, "The variety with the crowded 'Y' in LIBERTY and four berries on the reverse wreath, Breen 1-B, Miller 2", plated, sold for $13,225.00  Ex: Stack's Herman Halpern Collection (May 4,5 1999, lot 2923)

About Uncirculated, on the cusp of full Mint State.  Stack's "65th Anniversary Sale", October 17-19, 2000, Lot 1718, "Small Eagle, Breen 2-C, Miller 4", plated, sold for $23,000.00

Net EF-40, sharpness of AU-55.  Bowers and Merena Galleries, "The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part IV Sale", November 20-21, 2000, Lot 293, "Breen-4D, S over D in STATES", illustrated, sold for $9,775.00  From Stack's ANA Sale, August 1971, Lot 2107

Net EF-40, sharpness of AU-50.  Bowers and Merena Galleries, "The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, Part IV Sale", November 20-21, 2000, Lot 294, "Breen-6F, Repunched D in UNITED", illustrated, sold for $7,187.50  From the Bowers and Merena sale of the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, October 1982, Lot 325; earlier from the Chapman brothers sale of the Nicholas Petry Collection, 1893

ANACS Net EF-40. Cleaned.  Superior May 25- 27, Lot 3674, sold for $12,937.00

EF-40.  Ex - Superior 03/ 2001, Lot 801, "Close Date, four berries, Breen-6415", not sold

Extremely Fine with strong claims to a higher grade.  Stack's 10/ 2000: 1719, "Breen 6-E, Miller 8", $14,950.00

VF-20.  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coin & Collectibles' "The Fairchild Family Trust Collection Sale", May 28-30, 2001, Lot 1345, "Miller-9", illustrated, $6,325.00

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

"United States Half Eagle Gold Coins 1795 to 1834" by Robert W. Miller, Sr.