1803 Capped Bust Right Eagle. BD-5, Taraszka-30. Rarity-4+. Large Reverse Stars, Extra Star. AU-55 (

1803 Capped Bust Right Eagle. BD-5, Taraszka-30. Rarity-4+. Large Reverse Stars, Extra Star. AU-55 (NGC).，This is a handsome piece with copper-rose peripheral highlights to otherwise honey-gold surfaces. The strike is nicely centered on the planchet, the detail generally bold for a lightly circulated early eagle. The stars in the upper reverse field are typically soft for the variety, a combination of strike and wear removing all but the faintest trace of the errant 14th star within the final cloud. The position of the eagles left talon relative to the final letter A in AMERICA, however, confirms the Extra Star reverse and, by extension, the BD-5 attribution. Wispy hairlines and a somewhat subdued texture are mentioned for accuracy, but the surfaces are pleasingly smooth in hand.<p>The Extra Star feature has long made the 1803 BD-5 variety one of the most popular in the early eagle series. Examples are scarce by any measure, John Dannreuther (2006) accounting for just 90 to 110 survivors in all grades. Even so, this is the only readily obtainable die marriage of the Large Reverse Stars <em>Guide Book</em> variety of the 1803-dated issue for the only other, BD-6, is a major rarity with no more than 10 examples known. Early gold variety specialists and advanced type collectors alike would be wise to take full advantage of this significant bidding opportunity.，，