United States 1798 5 dollars
This type was struck at the Philadelphia mint 1795-1807 and supersedes an earlier type with a smaller eagle on the reverse. The heraldic eagle reverse was introduced in 1798 but 1795's and 1797's exist, likely minted in 1798 using older dies. The earlier type is very rare, this type is only rare. All the Federal gold coinage is scarce prior to the 1830's, being minted in small quantities and much of it promptly exported and melted. The original poster commented, "This is from an original mintage of 24,867, although some of that number accounts for the 1795 "Large Eagle" and 1798 "Small Eagle" varieties. All told, there are nine different known 1798 Large Eagle varieties, to include a variety with 14 reverse stars, versus the normal 13 reverse stars. No more than an estimated 230-240 graded by PCGS & NGC combined."
Recorded mintage: 24,867.
Specification: 8.75 g, 0.917 fine gold, 25 mm diameter, designed by Robert Scot.
Catalog reference: KM 30.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Alexander, David T., Coin World Comprehensive Catalog & Encyclopedia of United States Coins, Sidney, OH: Amos Press, 1995.
- Breen, Walter H., Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U. S. and Colonial Coins, New York: Doubleday, 1987.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Yeoman, R. S., and Kenneth Bressett (ed.), A Guide Book of United States Coins, 65th Ed., Atlanta, GA: Whitman Publishing, 2011.
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