1797 Capped Bust Right Eagle. Heraldic Eagle. BD-2, Taraszka-8. Rarity-4+. AU-55+ (PCGS).

1797 Capped Bust Right Eagle. Heraldic Eagle. BD-2, Taraszka-8. Rarity-4+. AU-55+ (PCGS).，This lovely Choice AU example displays a vibrant complexion of yellow-gold coloration. The surfaces are remarkably lustrous, showing just the faintest traces of circulation atop the highest points. Libertys portrait exhibits a slight weakness at center, though the remaining elements are sharp and heavily frosted throughout. A few shallow marks are apparent under scrutiny but are largely benign to the naked eye. The result of striking through debris, likely a wire, is apparent at Libertys shoulder and should not be confused for a handling mark. An attractive and well produced example ideal for both specialists and type collectors. <p>In 1797, the delicate Small Eagle reverse was replaced by a large Heraldic Eagle designed by Robert Scot and based upon the Great Seal of the United States. Three known die pairings were employed to produce the 10,940 Heraldic Eagle coins struck in 1797. The eagle punches employed for the Heraldic Eagle reverses of 1797 are generally attributed to assistant engraver John Smith Gardiner. While only one obverse die was used, three separate reverse dies were employed. BD-2 is chronologically the first of the die pairings used and shows a peculiar disproportionately thin neck closer to that of a chicken than that of our national bird. The equally scarce BD-4 variety also has a longer eagle neck, but the star arrangement below the clouds has a distinct pattern of three stars directly over the eagles head, while the BD-2 has only two in that location. While an estimated 3,500 to 5,000 coins of this particular variety are believed to have been struck, perhaps as few as 100 are thought to survive. The present piece is among the finest of these limited few, and offered both aesthetic beauty and technical quality.，Earlier from Heritages sale of August 2007, lot 1953.，