1811 $5 Capped Bust to Left Half Eagle NGC AU-58 BD-2, Small 5

The 1811 half eagle, part of the Capped Bust Left series, features two die varieties (BD-1 and BD-2) that share a single obverse die and are easily distinguished by the size and position of the "5" in the denomination. The BD-1 Tall 5 brushes against the lower denticles, while the BD-2 Small 5 sits evenly centered between the rim and the eagle's lowest fletching. Both varieties are relatively collectible among early half eagles, with John Dannreuther's estimates in Early U.S. Gold Coin Varieties suggesting 175–250 survivors for BD-1 and 225–300 for BD-2, making the latter slightly more accessible. Compared to earlier issues like the 1807, 1809/8, 1810 Large Date/Large 5, and 1812, the 1811 is more challenging to acquire overall.

Nearly 100,000 half eagles were minted in 1811, split evenly between the Large 5 (BD-1) and Small 5 (BD-2) varieties. The Small 5 appears most frequently on the market, especially in Mint State, though certified Uncirculated examples rarely exceed MS-63. Auction archives from the past 15 years show far more Small 5 offerings than Large 5, but few reach Choice or finer grades; only six Gem-level coins have sold since 1993. The Small 5 is identifiable by its diminutive "5" and a repunched base on the "C" in "AMERICA." In the Choice About Uncirculated AU58 grade, NGC has certified 6 examples with 15 finer.