1797 $10 BD-2, Large Eagle AU55 Certification #50151803, PCGS #45717

CoinFacts Details

Expert Comments

Charles Morgan

Rarity-4+. The BD-2 (#45717) represents the inaugural die marriage used to introduce the Heraldic Eagle reverse of the Draped Bust Eagle (1797–1804). While the obverse die was fashioned from the original 1795 hub, the reverse features John Smith Gardner’s new design, characterized by the eagle’s long, thin neck. With a mintage of approximately 3,500 to 5,000 coins, John W. Dannreuther estimates a mere 90 to 110 survivors exist today. In the typical die state (b/b), thin cracks are visible below the final "7" of the date, and a distinct rust lump is present on the second "T" of STATES.

 

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PCGS #
45717
Designer
Robert Scot
Edge
Reeded
Diameter
33.00 millimeters
Weight
17.50 grams
Mintage
10940
Metal
91.7% Gold, 8.3% Copper
Pop Higher
3
Pop Lower
0
Region
The United States of America

Condition Census Learn More

Pos Grade Thumbnail Pedigree and History
1 MS63+ PCGS grade MS63+ PCGS grade

BD-2. Highlights of gold-green toning blending with orange and reddish-gold.
2 PCGS MS63 PCGS MS63

“The Fairfield Collection,” Bowers and Ruddy, October 1977, Lot 1785; “The Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection, Part IV,” Heritage Auctions, August 10, 2023, Lot 9068 – $192,000. BD-2. Diagonal hit across hair at the ear with small planchet void below. Small tick to the left of star 13. Vertical tick below star 16. Curved marks at the top of the eagle’s head.
2 PCGS MS63 PCGS MS63

As PCGS MS63 #4330689. “The New Orleans Collection,” Heritage Auctions, April 23, 2015, Lot 5381 – $164,500. As PCGS MS63 #44156470. “The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part VIII,” Heritage Auctions, May 5, 2022, Lot 3611 – $276,000. BD-2 (per Heritage Auctions). Thin scratch across Liberty’s cheek. Pair of small vertical ticks below bust truncation above 9. Spider crack to the left of star 12. Tick in field above S of PLURIBUS and above the star above U of UNUM.
4 PCGS MS62 PCGS MS62

Stack’s, January 1994, Lot 1132. As PCGS MS62 #36674530. “The Anthony J. Taraszka Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, August 15, 2019, Lot 4010 – $102,000. BD-2. Die State b/c. There is a deep cluster of hits on the cheek. Scruffy right field with deep hits to the left of star 12. Die cracks through 7 and between S and O (on the reverse).
4 PCGS MS62

Jim McGuigan to Harvey B. Jacobson, by sale, 2002; “The Harvey B. Jacobson Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 1, 2022, Lot 4008 – $144,000. BD-2 (per Stack's Bowers). Die crack through 7. There are toning spots to the right of 7 and in the left field to the right of star 9. Two ticks on the jaw. Tick on the neck. On the reverse, die crack between S and O. Diagonal hit on the third column of stripes on the shield.
MS63+ PCGS grade #1 MS63+ PCGS grade

BD-2. Highlights of gold-green toning blending with orange and reddish-gold.
PCGS MS63 #2 PCGS MS63

“The Fairfield Collection,” Bowers and Ruddy, October 1977, Lot 1785; “The Harry W. Bass Jr. Core Collection, Part IV,” Heritage Auctions, August 10, 2023, Lot 9068 – $192,000. BD-2. Diagonal hit across hair at the ear with small planchet void below. Small tick to the left of star 13. Vertical tick below star 16. Curved marks at the top of the eagle’s head.
PCGS MS63 #2 PCGS MS63

As PCGS MS63 #4330689. “The New Orleans Collection,” Heritage Auctions, April 23, 2015, Lot 5381 – $164,500. As PCGS MS63 #44156470. “The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part VIII,” Heritage Auctions, May 5, 2022, Lot 3611 – $276,000. BD-2 (per Heritage Auctions). Thin scratch across Liberty’s cheek. Pair of small vertical ticks below bust truncation above 9. Spider crack to the left of star 12. Tick in field above S of PLURIBUS and above the star above U of UNUM.
PCGS MS62 #4 PCGS MS62

Stack’s, January 1994, Lot 1132. As PCGS MS62 #36674530. “The Anthony J. Taraszka Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, August 15, 2019, Lot 4010 – $102,000. BD-2. Die State b/c. There is a deep cluster of hits on the cheek. Scruffy right field with deep hits to the left of star 12. Die cracks through 7 and between S and O (on the reverse).
#4 PCGS MS62

Jim McGuigan to Harvey B. Jacobson, by sale, 2002; “The Harvey B. Jacobson Collection,” Stack’s Bowers, November 1, 2022, Lot 4008 – $144,000. BD-2 (per Stack's Bowers). Die crack through 7. There are toning spots to the right of 7 and in the left field to the right of star 9. Two ticks on the jaw. Tick on the neck. On the reverse, die crack between S and O. Diagonal hit on the third column of stripes on the shield.