1798 $2.50 Close Date (Regular Strike)

Series: Draped Bust $2 1/2 1796-1807

PCGS MS65

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PCGS AU58

PCGS #:: 97649

Designer:: Robert Scot

Edge:: Reeded

Diameter:: 20.00 millimeters

Weight:: 4.37 grams

Mintage:: 1,094

Mint:: Philadelphia

Metal:: 91.7% Gold, 8.3% Copper

Auction Record:: $763,750 • MS65 • 05-19-2015 • Stack's Bowers

ShowHide Related Coins and Varieties (4)

Major Varieties

1798 $2.50 Close Date
1798 $2.50 Wide Date

Die Varieties

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Price Guide (USD)

PCGS Population

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Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity By Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity By Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
All Grades	30	R-8.9	3 / 11 TIE	3 / 12 TIE
60 or Better	3	R-9.8	1 / 11 TIE	1 / 12 TIE
65 or Better	1	R-10.0	1 / 11 TIE	1 / 12 TIE

Survival Estimate
All Grades	30
60 or Better	3
65 or Better	1

Numismatic Rarity
All Grades	R-8.9
60 or Better	R-9.8
65 or Better	R-10.0

Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades	3 / 11 TIE
60 or Better	1 / 11 TIE
65 or Better	1 / 11 TIE

Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades	3 / 12 TIE
60 or Better	1 / 12 TIE
65 or Better	1 / 12 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	MS65 PCGS grade	Norman Stack Collection, sold privately in 1990 - Eric Streiner - Superior 8/1991:664, $291,500 - Sotheby’s 6/2000:359 (as PCGS MS65), $268,500 - D. Brent Pogue Collection - Stack’s/Bowers & Sotheby’s 5/2015:1119, $763,750
2	MS62 PCGS estimated grade	Bowers & Merena 9/1984:2432 - David W. Akers “Auction '89” 7/1989:1358 - Chalkley Collection - Superior 1/1990:4337 - Superior “Auction '90” 8/1990:1249 - Superior 8/1991:665 - Superior 5/1993:1377 - Heritage 4/2008:2405, $218,500
3	AU55 PCGS grade
4	AU53 PCGS grade	Dr. Douglas Roane Collection - Heritage 9/2003:7684, $29,900
4	AU53 estimated grade	H. Jeff Browning "Dallas Bank" Collection - Sotheby's/Stack's 10/2001:298, $29,900 - Stack’s/Bowers 9/2011:5833, $48,875
4	AU53 estimated grade	James A. Stack Collection -Stack's 10/1994:832 - Ed Price Collection - Heritage 7/2008:1454, $48,875
7	AU50 estimated grade	Byron Reed Collection - Western Heritage Museum - Spink America 10/1996:42, $17,050 - Dr. James A. Ferrendelli Collection - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 2/2016:170, $28,200

#1 MS65 PCGS grade

Norman Stack Collection, sold privately in 1990 - Eric Streiner - Superior 8/1991:664, $291,500 - Sotheby’s 6/2000:359 (as PCGS MS65), $268,500 - D. Brent Pogue Collection - Stack’s/Bowers & Sotheby’s 5/2015:1119, $763,750

#2 MS62 PCGS estimated grade

Bowers & Merena 9/1984:2432 - David W. Akers “Auction '89” 7/1989:1358 - Chalkley Collection - Superior 1/1990:4337 - Superior “Auction '90” 8/1990:1249 - Superior 8/1991:665 - Superior 5/1993:1377 - Heritage 4/2008:2405, $218,500

#3 AU55 PCGS grade

#4 AU53 PCGS grade

Dr. Douglas Roane Collection - Heritage 9/2003:7684, $29,900

#4 AU53 estimated grade

H. Jeff Browning "Dallas Bank" Collection - Sotheby's/Stack's 10/2001:298, $29,900 - Stack’s/Bowers 9/2011:5833, $48,875

#4 AU53 estimated grade

James A. Stack Collection -Stack's 10/1994:832 - Ed Price Collection - Heritage 7/2008:1454, $48,875

#7 AU50 estimated grade

Byron Reed Collection - Western Heritage Museum - Spink America 10/1996:42, $17,050 - Dr. James A. Ferrendelli Collection - Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's 2/2016:170, $28,200

Gordon Wrubel: There are only two die varieties of 1798 $2 1/2 dollar gold pieces. These are comprised of two distinct obverses and reverses: The Close Date with a 4 Berry reverse, Bass-Dannreuther, BD-1, and the Wide Date with a 5 Berry reverse, BD-2. While both varieties are rare, the Bass-Dannreuther research has shown that the former, BD-1, is about TWICE as rare as the latter, BD-2, in all grades including Mint State.

Quickfinder Notes: Of course the two varieties can be distinguished by counting the berries in the branch held in the eagle's left claw. But the obverse dies are also distinctive. The Close Date has the digits rather closely spaced and the 8 is CLEAR OF THE BUST. The Wide Date has noticeably wider spaced digits and the 8 is EMBEDDED IN THE BUST drapery.