The 1795 Draped Bust Half Eagle belongs to the first year of American gold coinage, and that alone places it in a category few coins can claim. Congress authorized the half eagle in 1792, and by 1795 the Philadelphia Mint was striking these five-dollar gold pieces by hand, one at a time, on a screw press operated by a small team of skilled artisans. The BD-3 die marriage is a recognized variety among early half eagle specialists, distinguished by specific die-pairing characteristics that serious collectors use to attribute individual examples. Owning a variety-attributed 1795 half eagle means owning a piece of numismatic history that can be precisely placed within the very first chapter of American gold coinage.

The coin has an original mintage of 8,707 and today under 700 are certified in all grades between PCGS and NGC combined. Most known survivors are circulated or have been damaged or cleaned over the past 230 years. This example, however, has pleasing honey-gold surfaces on both sides and while the coin saw some circulation after being issued, someone must have tucked it away for it to have remained so pristine.

The obverse carries the Draped Bust portrait of Liberty facing right, designed by Robert Scot after a sketch attributed to Gilbert Stuart. Her flowing hair falls beneath a soft cap, stars arc around the portrait, and the date 1795 anchors the design below. On this example, all fifteen stars are fully defined, and the fine hair detail within Liberty's curls remains sharp and distinct. The reverse presents the Small Eagle type, a design drawn from classical European influence rather than the heraldic eagles that would follow in later years. The small perched bird holds an olive branch and a laurel wreath, surrounded by the legend "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." The eagle's feathers show strong individual relief, and the overall strike is notably sharper than what survives on many examples from this early Philadelphia production run.

PCGS has certified this coin AU-55, a grade that reflects surfaces retaining significant original mint luster alongside only light high-point friction consistent with brief circulation. The warm, original gold color is entirely natural, free from cleaning or artificial enhancement, and the fields carry the hand-struck flow-line texture that distinguishes genuine early American gold from later machine-made coinage. No distracting marks interrupt the surfaces, and the eye appeal is well above average for the grade. The 1795 Small Eagle Half Eagle is a foundational type coin. It anchors early American gold type sets, satisfies variety specialists pursuing Browning die marriages, and stands as a cornerstone of any serious collection of first-year United States issues. At this level of preservation, with PCGS certification, a recognized variety attribution, and problem-free surfaces, examples of this quality appear infrequently. For those committed to assembling a meaningful collection of early American gold, this coin represents a rare opportunity to acquire one of the defining issues of the series. The coin pictured is the exact coin you will receive.

For questions about this coin or to confirm availability and pricing, call us at 800-928-6468.