Bidspirit auction | ***Major Highlight*** 1812 Gold Capped

***Major Highlight*** 1812 Gold Capped Bust Half Eagle $5 BD-1 ms64 PCGS (fc) - ***Major Highlight*** 1812 BD-1 Gold Capped Bust Half Eagle $5 ms64 PCGS. A delightfully attractive example with yellow-gold patina and accents of deeper honey coloration near the border. Minor adjustment marks (as made) are apparent across Liberty's portrait but the surfaces are largely spared from signs of actual handling. Sharply struck and intensely lustrous.Popular in commerce, half eagles saw extensive use both domestically and abroad. Die life had improved by 1812, so that the entire reported mintage of 58,057 coins was accomplished from only two die pairings (and this is likely an underestimate of the true quantity struck). These two pairings are readily identified by examining the reverse: BD-1, as here, has a very widely spaced 5 D, while BD-2 has the denomination compact. BD-1 forms the bulk of the production with maybe 45,000 to 60,000 pieces struck from this die par alone, with 10,000 to 15,000 examples coined for BD-2. Even with this fairly substantial mintage, because of mass speculation and melting during the 1820s, less than 1% survive to this day. John W. Dannreuther's (2006) estimate on the number of BD-1 survivors is in the range of 300 to 450 coins. This is a solidly graded and attractive survivor that is sure to please the discerning gold enthusiast. A Key Date's Pick, Bid to Win, Don't let it get Away, you might not find its equal Coin. I give this coin my highest recommendation