The June 2-5, 2002, Pre-Long Beach Sale, Sale 14
Lot 2344
1795. Off-center bust,
BB-51, URS-12, B-14, R-2. PCGS graded VF-30. A real beauty for the
grade, the periphery is toned with multicolored hues while the centers remain
natural silver gray. Examination finds no fault, the rims, surfaces and devices
are clean for the grade, and show the expected circulation ticks, and one light
rim mark on the reverse at 3 o'clock (hard to see in the holder). Always in
demand by type and variety collectors despite being somewhat common, these are
hard to find this nice.
Estimated Value $2,500-3,500.
Lot 2345
1796. Small date, large
letters, BB-61, URS-21, B-4, R-2. VF-30. Steel gray and evenly toned
on both sides. Perfectly centered and well struck for the variety with no rim
problems or distracting marks anywhere to be found. Far better than usually
encountered for the grade, and we suspect that this one will bring a strong
price from a collector who recognizes the quality offered.
Estimated Value
$1,600-1,800.
Lot 2346
1798. Small eagle reverse,
15 stars on obverse. BB-81, URS-11, B-2, R-3. PCGS graded VF-35. One
of the most important type coins from the Bust dollar series, this is the only
fifteen star obverse used in 1798, and it is paired with one of just two small
eagle reverse dies. Apparently this was the first variety struck in 1798, as
the new heraldic eagle reverse dies were prepared. Locating this variety in
high grades is always a challenge, most circulated for years before they were
saved, and few are found in grades over Extremely Fine. The reverse die was
used over a four year span, and was paired with six different obverses during
that time! The reverse is always weak, likely due to die lapping, while the
obverse is fairly sharp for the variety. Toned a steel gray color, with lilac
and gold hints on either side. Light adjustment marks can be seen around the
obverse, mostly at the rims with a few at the centers. This is the usual die
state with a faint crack from the seventh star to the upper ribbon in Liberty's
hair. Traces of luster in the devices, and clean rims and surfaces generally.
Identifiable by a small nick on the leading edge of the right wing of the
eagle, just below and right of the point of his beak. An impressive example of
this sought-after coin.
Estimated Value $5,000-6,000.
Lot 2347
1798. Heraldic eagle
reverse, wide date, 13 arrows, BB-111, URS-10, B-11b, R-3. VF-30.
One of the most dramatic die breaks in the entire bust dollar series, the
obverse die cracked severely before this coin was struck through the last star
up to Liberty's head. Curiously, the die first cracked through the bottom 3
points of the star to her neck, the die was then lapped greatly reducing this
crack, and then as more coins were struck the die cracked again, this time
through the upper point of the last star to Liberty's mouth. Well struck by the
dies, with traces of sunset luster in the fields and we note one rim nick on
the reverse above the last S of STATES. This terminal die state has always been
popular with specialists in this series.
Estimated Value $1,200-1,400.
Purchased from Jonathan Kern in February 1997.
Lot 2348
1799. 9 over 8, reverse
with 15 stars. BB-141, URS-11, B-3, R-3. NGC graded MS-63. Certainly
one of the finest examples of this popular overdate obverse which combines with
the delightful corrected error reverse. The surfaces display a lovely lilac and
gray tone over strong mint luster, with deep blue and green tones in the fields
noted when examined with a light. Fully struck by the dies, with sharp stars on
the obverse, curls on Liberty and similar on the reverse, with no signs of
weakness worthy of note. Faint hairlines can be seen from a long ago wiping
with a cloth or similar action, and this coin is identifiable by a small tick
at the lower pocket of Liberty's throat and a horizontal line through her
drapery into the field by the last star. The fifteen star reverse is unique to
this one reverse die, and few are known in mint state grades. NGC reports only
5 graded this high (of both the thirteen and fifteen star reverse, as this is
not differentiated on this holder) with a single coin graded higher. PCGS has
graded just 1 as MS-63, with 4 graded higher, all MS-64 of this variety.
How
did the fifteen star reverse come about? For a brief time, the engravers at the
Philadelphia Mint added a star to the obverse and/or reverse as each new state
joined the Union. This continued until Tennessee joined as the sixteenth state
in 1796, and many silver and gold coins display 16 stars. At this point, Mint
officials decided to return to the 13 stars to represent the thirteen original
colonies. By 1799 most of the dies had been discarded which showed more than 13
stars, except for a couple of accidents where too many stars were engraved.
Here is one of those accidents, apparently the die engraver put 7 stars in the
top row, another 6 in the second row, then added the usual two stars on either
side of the eagle's head, for a total of 15 stars. The error was noticed, but
what to do? An ingenious solution was found, why not cover over two of the
offending stars, but how? The engraver came up with a unique solution, he
expanded the first and last cloud over the first row of stars to cover over the
offending stars! Thus, only 13 stars now show, but the enlarged clouds show
star points sticking out from the bottoms giving away the error. Die steel was
quite expensive, and each die took time to engrave, so it was better to use
this die rather than discard it. Later, this fifteen star reverse die was
paired with a second obverse, and more coins were struck before it was retired.
Here is one of the most popular "error" reverse dies, in choice mint state
condition for your consideration.
Estimated Value $20,000-UP.
Lot 2349
1799. 9 over 8, reverse
with 15 stars, BB-141, URS-11, B-3, R-3. EF-40. A nearly perfect
coin for the grade, with steel gray toning around the rims, and lighter silver
at the centers, the reverse sports lots of blue shades tucked in with the
devices. The overdate is clear on the obverse, and the reverse has the unusual
15 stars over the eagle, but note that two of the stars were covered over by
elongating the clouds at the left and right! Apparently the engraver put too
many stars on the reverse, noticed the error, and then covered it over by
engraving the clouds much larger. No adjustment marks or problems whatsoever,
and a delight to behold.
Estimated Value $1,600-1,800.
Purchased
from Stack's Sale, March 22, 1994, lot 1148 and used as one of the cover coins
in that sale.
Lot 2350
1799. Normal date. BB-166,
URS-12, B-9a, R-1. PCGS graded AU-58. A superb example of this
common die variety, each device is fully struck and the entire coin is a steel
gray color with good luster in the fields. The only hint of weakness is on the
second star on the left, and this is diagnostic to the variety. Far better than
most encountered, this particular coin not only barely circulated (if at all)
but has far better surfaces than is typical, even for this lofty grade. Note
the vein details on the leaves and crispness of the eagle's feathers. There are
circular die polishing lines on the obverse, and these can be seen in Liberty's
hair and in her drapery lines. As this obverse was used extensively, the coiner
removed the die and polished it up a bit, and these lines are the result. The
obverse die cracked through the first 9 up through Liberty, just touching the
tip of her chin and out star nine to the rim, another crack joins this one and
continues up in the field below the Y. On the reverse, we note a crack through
the tops of MERICA. Although a common variety, few could survive with such
choice surfaces in this high grade. We were unable to trace the provenance on
this coin.
Estimated Value $7,500-UP.
Lot 2351
1799. BB-160, URS-11,
B-12b, R-3. VF-30. A beautiful example of this later obverse die
state. There are several cracks on the obverse, and a rim cud has formed above
stars two and three (often called a rim bump by catalogers unfamiliar with the
variety). Deep steel gray with lighter silver on the devices. Nearly perfect
surfaces for the grade, and far above average for the variety.
Estimated
Value $1,200-1,400.
Purchased from Superior's Wyatt Sale, October 1,
1985, lot 2036.
Lot 2352
1801 BB-211, URS-11, B-1,
R-3. VF-30. Frosty luster and well struck by the dies and totally
problem free. Light greenish gold toning around the periphery. Excellent rims
and surfaces, with loads of eye appeal for this tough date.
Estimated Value
$1,200-1,400.
Purchased from Jim McGuigan on February 1, 1986.
Lot 2353
1803. Small 3, BB-251,
URS-9, B-1, R-3. PCGS graded AU-55. Probably high in the condition
census for the variety, as this date is virtually impossible to locate in full
mint state grades (PCGS notes only 8 graded of the date in mint state
condition), with a small cluster in AU grades below. Frosty luster in the
fields, and especially so on the reverse, and toned a light golden gray color.
The surfaces show minor handling marks and are problem free. Sharply impressed
on the devices, including the stars and curls on the obverse, and similar on
the reverse. As a date, 1803 is far rarer than most of the Bust dollar series.
Identifiable by a tiny nick in the wing from the top of the L in PLURIBUS to
over the first U of that word up at an angle.
Estimated Value $5,000-6,000.
Lot 2354
1803. Large 3, BB-255,
URS-12, B-6, R-2. ICG graded AU-55. Beautiful green and gold toning
primarily around the periphery of both the obverse and reverse. A sharp strike
for the variety, as usually seen, and struck after the obverse die had been
lapped, as the recut 3 is scarcely visible. On the reverse, note that the die
was rotated about 25 degrees counter clockwise. Clean rims that show no bumps
or bruises from what we can see through the holder, and no adjustment marks are
present. Enough luster remains to dazzle the eye. Average handling marks on the
surfaces.
Estimated Value $4,500-5,500.
Lot 2355
1803. Large 3. BB-255,
URS-12, B-6, R-2. PCGS graded AU-50. The most common variety of this
date, the large 3 is instantly recognizable by the recutting seen along the
bottom of that digit. Light silvery gray in color, the surfaces display a fair
amount of luster in the protected areas, and the strike is average for this
variety (sharp stars, slight weakness on the upper hair curls). This is Bowers
die state III, with a die crack connecting all the obverse stars on the right,
which is the final die state reported. As with many coins of this variety, the
reverse die was rotated about 20 degrees counter clockwise when this one was
struck. As to rarity, this coin is probably in the top 20 known of the variety,
according to the combined NGC and PCGS population reports. This particular coin
is identifiable by a microscopic pit just below Liberty's nose, and a short
scratch from the point of the star above the eagle's beak down to the right to
the eagle's head, stopping at the head above his eye. No rim problems, but we
do note peripheral adjustment marks on the reverse.
Estimated Value
$2,500-3,000.