 1795 Br.2-C, BD-1 (R-5). Choice About Uncirculated and offering its fair share of visual allure. The fields exhibit delicate coppery-orange toning that nicely highlights plenty of underlying reflectivity amidst the design elements. As is the case with all known examples struck from this obverse, there is quite a bit of die rust evident at the lower stars, hair, date, and drapery. A very shallow, well concealed ancient obverse scuff is also detectable on Liberty's turban, and there is a trivial obverse rim lamination at 9:00. A well struck, entirely honest example of this very rare and highly collectible early gold type coin. This completely wholesome specimen, furthermore, has been closely held and thus off the market for many decades.
From the collection of well known numismatist George H. Blake, and consigned to this sale by one of his direct descendants.
It should be pointed out that Harry Bass believed this die marriage to be the first of this date to be struck at the U.S. Mint, and thus the first pair of dies used in the striking of this entire denomination. His conclusion is reached despite the presence of the aforementioned die rust at the lower left obverse. A possible explanation for the presence of this die rust, according to Bass, is the fact the production of this denomination was significantly delayed due to stipulations in the Mint Act of 1792 requiring a number of mint officials to post a bond prior to the striking of any gold coins. Initially, this bond was set at $10,000.00, and it was not until it was reduced that production finally began (the first delivery of 1795 half eagles totalled only 744 pieces and was not made until July 31, 1795). If Bass' assertion is indeed true, then the currently offered coin is among the very first to be made of this longstanding, highly important denomination!
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