U. S. Coins

Mint State 1796 Turban Head Eagle

Lot 936
1796. Taraszka 6, R.4. MS-60+. The only die combination of this year, here in an early state with no reverse die breaks and only minimal cracking on the obverse. Nicely struck on both sides, with full details in the hair and on the eagle's feathers (even the breast!) -- the only weakness is in the denticles on the right side of the reverse. The fields have a strong, definite, Prooflike brilliance that we have not seen on this date before, but which is absolutely original. The surfaces have some scattered, micro-pitting that appears to be from defects in the metal itself, not from any post-striking developments. Coppery toning surrounds all of the design elements on the reverse. All in all, this is a remarkable piece that ranks right up there some of the significant examples mentioned by Taraszka (both of Whitney's, the Auction '80 coin, the Byron Reed example, etc.).
Estimated Value $65,000-70,000.

Attractive 1798/7 $10 Eagle

Lot 937
1798, 8 over 7. 9 stars left, 4 right. Taraszka 9. Sharpness of About Uncirculated. Possible repair work to remove a rim bruise at 4:00. Cleaned long ago, now a respectable, yellow-gold color and with traces of orange toning around the reverse. Strong, even strike, with no areas of weakness on either side. Two die varieties of the 1798 Eagles are known, both overdates, this one not being as pronounced as the other. Taraszka's study of die marriages shows that this 1798 dated coin was struck before two varieties dated 1797 (the most likely scenario being that the 1797 dated varieties were struck later in 1798, or even beyond)!
Estimated Value $17,000-19,000.