***Auction Highlight*** 1809/8 Capped Bust Half Eagle Gold $5 BD-1 Graded ms63+ By SEGS (fc)

***Auction Highlight*** 1809/8 Capped Bust Half Eagle Gold $5 BD-1 Graded ms63+ By SEGS (fc)
***Auction Highlight*** 1809/8 BD-1 Capped Bust Half Eagle Gold $5 Graded ms63+ By SEGS. John Reich came to the Mint as assistant engraver on April 1, 1807, and worked precisely one decade with no pay raise. Unsurprisingly, he left the Mint's employ after 10 years. During that time, he managed to redesign copper half cents and large cents; silver dimes, quarters, and half dollars (but not the half dime, which saw a coinage hiatus from 1805 to 1829, nor yet the silver dollar, not minted from 1803-1836); and gold quarter eagles and half eagles (but not the eagle, which had not been minted since 1804 and would not be again until 1838). Reich, a German immigrant, was the first Mint engraver to consistently include the denomination on all gold and silver coin designs. Reich also left his "secret mark" on most coinage dies of the era, a notched star point (or more than one), usually on star 13. By 1815, Reich had managed to create a complete set of the circulating coins of the time with a common theme, the familiar Capped Liberty or Capped Bust design.Bass-Dannreuther estimate that somewhere between 20,000 and 33,875 pieces of this issue were struck, all from a single die pairing. Although the 1809/8 is listed as an overdate and included in the Guide Book in that manner, some numismatists have doubted that the 9 is truly over an 8. From Bass-Dannreuther: "As noted above, Bass doubted the overdate status of this variety, but traditionally it has been considered one. Tradition often wins over reality and, as noted, the author agrees with Bass, the overdate status of this variety is doubtful. There is something under the 9, but whether it is an 8 or remnants of an erroneously punched 9 is uncertain."The gleaming yellow-gold surfaces of this lovely Gem are bursting with original "skin, " and the coin is well-centered and well-struck A Corey'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