Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 44

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Flowing Hair Dollars

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 2832		1794 Flowing Hair Dollar. PCGS graded Fine-15. In PCGS holder number 10008009. Lightly toned. The date is somewhat weak. A very popular date. Only 1,758 minted. Small flaw on the obverse as made. Offered a few years ago in a Heritage March 2003 sale, it was described by the cataloger thusly: "This is an unmistakable 1794 Dollar. It has a prominent pedigree marker that is impossible to miss. It appears that a piece of bent wire, approximately 10 mm. long, that starts in the middle of Liberty's neck and terminates in the field just below the neck, fell between the die and the blank planchet, leaving a distinctive impression on the finished coin. This coin was unknown to the late Jack Collins. Jack spent decades researching 1794 Dollars and tracing their pedigrees. However, this coin has remained, until recently, in the collection of Cornelius Vermeule, noted author of Numismatic Art in America. It was purchased by Vermeule from Norman Stack in the late 1960s, while Mr. Vermeule was researching coin types with Mr. Stack for his landmark book." A mere 1,758 pieces were made this first year of issue. Somewhere under 150 are known today (Bowers enumerates 102 pieces in his encyclopedia). It appears that early in the minting cycle, after only a few 1794 dollars were struck, the dies became misaligned which caused the date and several nearby few stars on the left to be softly impressed. (The same thing occurred on the matching area on the reverse). This is quite visible on this piece, the weak detail from skewed dies being also affected by considerable circulation wear, which left only the tops of the date digits visible. The surfaces are a natural light "old silver" hue with more saturated gray color in the areas around the design and around the margin. Numerous small abrasions are detected with the aid of a glass, but none deserve singling out (PCGS # 6851) . Estimated Value $90,000 - 100,000. Ex Stack's Cornelius Vermeule Collection (9/01), lot 414. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2833		1794 Flowing Hair Dollar. Sharpness of VF-35. Nicely toned. Some light marks and scratches on the obverse. Weakly struck along the left side (though all four digits of the date are present), with similar soft detail along the reverse legends at 8 o'clock to 11 o'clock. The centers are sharp and nicely detailed. Rims, too, are in excellent condition, free of marks or bumps. The dies for this world-famous rarity were made by Mint Engraver Robert Scot. On November 23, 1793, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, who was in charge of the affairs of the Mint, wrote to Scot and sent him a commission to be engraver at the Mint. Scot took on the job of cutting the dies for coinage, including this 1794 Flowing Hair dollar. In November 1794, John Smith Gardner was hired as his assistant, but by this time the initial delivery of silver dollars had been accomplished. (Probably, Gardner worked on some of the 1795 and later dies.) All known strikes of this key date silver dollar were made on October 15, 1794. The designs are by Robert Scot, hailing originally from England, who also personally cut the dies. All silver specimens known to us show weakness in the strike at the left obverse and reverse due to skewing or oblique alignment of the dies; the unique copper specimen with lettered edge, apparently intended as a Proof or Pattern, does not show this skewing and therefore may have been struck first or on a separate occasion. It is possible that a few silver strikes were made before the skewing occurred and thus would have a full strike at the left sides, but we cannot recall having seen any, nor do we have any record of sale of such a specimen (PCGS # 6851) . Estimated Value $70,000 - 80,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2834		1795. Flowing Hair Dollar 2 Leaves. NGC graded EF-40 BB-24, B-13. Rarity 5. Nice even light blue and golden toning. A scarce variety. Pop 1; 1 finer in 53 (PCGS # 39989) . Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000. Ex: Miller Collection, Ex: Hesselgesser Duplicate Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2835		1795. Flowing Hair Bust Dollar. . BB-21. PCGS graded VG-10. Nice golden toning merging into light to medium silver-gray patina with accents of blue. Choice rims and blemish-free surfaces. A single mark below the eagle's wing (PCGS # 6853) . Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $3,105
Lot 2836		1795 Flowing Hair Dollar. 2 leaves beneath each wing. . B-4, BB-14, Rarity 3. PCGS graded EF-40 CAC Verified. Nice old time blue and gold toning. A sleek and smooth highly presentable flowing hair dollar of this variety, one with a nice gradation of shades on both sides. The contact from the dies is virtually complete, as well, which is most important, the hair waves above Liberty's temple show separation. It pays to shop around, and that is what Dr. Hesselgesser must have done for years and years to be able to locate this, and his other pristine bust dollars. He's done all the work. Now it is up to the bidders to show their support by delivering a strong market price-realized on this attractive BB-14 example. No one has ever called bust dollar collectors a "sleepy association" for they are always on their toes, but this coin will clearly reawaken one and all to the realization that there is money to be made out of careful selection. Pop 1; 1 finer in AU55. (PCGS # 39981) . Die attributes: So-called hidden star variety. Star 15 is "hidden " entirely under the bust, where Liberty cannot "see" even a part of it; the only 1795 obverse with this characteristic. Flowing hair in six curls; lowest curl ends faintly above two points of first star, and close to one point. Estimated Value $12,000 - 13,000. The Dr. Hesselgesser Duplicate Bust Dollar Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $13,800
Lot 2837		1795 Flowing Hair Dollar. 2 leaves beneath each wing. . B-2, BB-20, Rarity 1. PCGS graded VF-35. Lovely golden toning with sea green and blue undertones. A heart-stopping example of the affordable quality one likes to see for this actively collected year. Clear, blemish-free surfaces blends naturally with pale to medium gray color whose highlights, because they are of a lighter "rubbed silver" look, offer the viewer a splendid contrast. Uncleaned, original specimens like this are becoming much harder to find. A prestigious example, no one will deny. Who can say where this Flowing hair bust dollar's popularity will end. The design (as well as collecting by varieties) has seen energetic advances for the better part of a century and a half now! Pop 2; 1 finer in AU53. (PCGS # 39985) . Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000. The Dr. Hesselgesser Duplicate Bust Dollar Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2838		1795 Flowing Hair Dollar. 2 leaves beneath each wing. . B-9, BB-13, Rarity 3. PCGS graded VF-30. Lightly toned around the edges, smooth gray surface with a couple of marks on the 12th stars and in the field close by. Carefully preserved rims; no rought areas in the planchet. A very choice specimen. In the intervening years when more examples of BB-13 entered the marketplace, Bowers estimates that now about 300 to 500 specimens exist of 1795 BB-13, "a figure considerably more liberal than the Bolender suggestion of R-5 (31 to 75 coins, if he meant R-5 on the Sheldon Scale), or the 1881 Type-Table designation of "very rare.'" Yet this one is still difficult to acquire certified by PCGS, as this figure suggests: Pop 1; 1 in AU55. (PCGS # 39980) . Estimated Value $7,500 - 8,000. The Dr. Hesselgesser Duplicate Bust Dollar Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2839		1795 Flowing Hair Dollar. 3 leaves beneath each wing. . B-6, BB-25. NGC graded AU-55. Light even toning on both sides. Light adjustment marks near the date but note especially the clean fields and devices, as well as the uniformity of the antique color. Considering the run of the mill 1795 dollars offered for sale, this handsome coin is something of a milestone. Three die states of 1795 BB-25 are reported or surmised, with the most plentiful, like the present coin, Die State III. Here, the obverse die was relapped (i.e., in a later state than Die State I). The relapping was especially severe and shortened the curls, with the lowest curl now ending in a point between two points of star rather than crossing through, and is near star. Traces of the former erroneous R under E of LIBERTY now mostly gone. An engraving tool was used to strengthen the bottom tail of R. Reverse: A fourth leaf is now seen in the cluster below the first S in STATES on the reverse; presumably, the die became unclogged. This die state used to be catalogued as Bolender-6 and Haseltine-6. Pop 2; None finer at NGC. Estimated Value $20,000 - 22,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $23,000
Lot 2840		1795 Flowing Hair Dollar. 3 leaves beneath each wing. . B-6, BB-25, Rarity 3. PCGS graded EF-45 CAC Verified. Nice golden toning with under line sea green. Some luster visable around the stars and legends. An impressive example in all regards. The clean, mark-free surfaces are naturally toned with, as stated, a little residual luster, the strike is choice, and the eye appeal is nothing short of exceptional. Probably the best hope for a Type Set buyer is that die variety collectors may already have a BB-25 specimen in their collections, leaving room for others to bid. This date is recommended for a Type Set as representing the 3 Leaves Red Book variety. Pop 1; 1 in AU53. (PCGS # 39975) . Estimated Value $11,000 - 12,000. The Dr. Hesselgesser Duplicate Bust Dollar Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $12,650
Lot 2841		1795 Flowing Hair Dollar. 3 leaves beneath each wing. . B-7, BB-18, Rarity 4. NGC graded EF-45. Steel grey toning on both sides. A few light old marks on the neck. A lock-solid BB-18 with strong primary dove-gray and dappled toned highlights on both sides. More than adequately struck for any 1795 issue, perhaps not 100% so, since this issue rarely is, but certainly a coin that gets points where fullness of design is concerned. The rims are immaculate. Collectors shy away from rim problems such as nicks or bumps. There is no shying away from this belle of the ball! Pop 2; 2 in 53. Estimated Value $10,000 - 11,000. The Dr. Hesselgesser Duplicate Bust Dollar Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $10,638
Lot 2842		1795 Flowing Hair Dollar. 3 leaves beneath each wing. NCS graded Details of EF-40. Obverse scratched and damaged. Some fine graffiti in the right obverse field well hidden by the natural looking toning. A desirable Red Book variety, there are three leaves under each wing. In the wreath, 13 berries, seven on left branch, six on right. Two berries under first T in STATES, one on inside and one on outside of wreath. Almost all specimens of BB-27 examined by Bolender showed a fine die crack from the end of the left stem downward extending to the border. This same reverse die was used to strike 1795 BB-25 and BB-26 (PCGS # 6852) . Estimated Value $2,800 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $3,335
Lot 2843		1795 Flowing Hair Dollar. 3 leaves. NCS graded Details of VF-20. A few old obverse scratches. Nice golden toning that ranges from neutral "old silver" shades of gray to warm golden brown in the exterior regions. Well centered on a defect-free planchet (PCGS # 6852) . Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,600. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $2,128
Lot 2844		1795 Flowing Hair Dollar. Silver plug. PCGS graded AU-55 PQ. Silver Plug. Nicely toned on both sides. Well struck with semi-reflective surfaces. Rarity 7-8. The overlay of color consists of evenly balanced dove-gray to pewter shades with luster present on both obverse and reverse surfaces. The sharp strike is seen at the hair above the ear and elsewhere, plus nearly complete stars. The reverse displays similar sharp detail and is just as impressive. Some might find it even more beautiful than the obverse, but from our point of view, it is a toss-up! Here it is probably that the dies were spaced exactly far enough apart to impart strong metal flow in all areas. The survival of this specimen can only been one of chance, since other BB-18 dollars tend to be either more poorly preserved or have problems of one sort or another. Even the most critical inspection under powerful magnification finds nothing but positive qualities. Clearly, this 1795 Flowing hair silver dollar will bring forth strong bidding action. This attractive obverse (Obverse 4 in the variety guides) has Liberty's flowing hair in six curls. The lowest curl is very small and perfect, and touches the innermost point of star 1, as it continues to nearly complete a loop. The curl end is close to and extends toward innermost point on star 2. Last star partly under bust, but not as far under as BB-11, and not quite as close, but it is near. Wide date, most space between 1 and 7. This obverse die used to strike 1795 BB-16 and BB-17 earlier before its use on BB-18. Pop 2; 4 finer, 1 in 58, 2 in 64, 1 in 65 (PCGS # 6854) . Estimated Value $50,000 - 60,000. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Unsold
Lot 2845		1795 Flowing Hair Dollar. Silver plug. . B-7, BB-18, Probably Rarity 6 as a plug. PCGS graded EF-45. Lovely dark golden toning. Well struck. These silver flowing hair dollars of 1795 are known on several varieties, but usually on just a few coins of each. It is surmised that during the planchet making step, on occasion a planchet would be underweight. The normal procedure would be to melt it and try again. Someone thinker at the Mint hit upon the model of the 1792 silver center cent as an remedy. To drill out the center of the blank silver dollar planchet, insert a silver "plug" of the requisite weight standard, and to strike the coin normally. The plug would flatten out and merge into the body of the coin. The BB-18 example offered displays unstoppable smooth color with tranquil beauty in the golden-brown and gray highlights. The rims are problem free, as are the devices. The strike is strong for what is often a problematic 1795 date. Softness, what there is, is focused only on the top waves of hair and, on the reverse, for a limited area of lightness at the breast on the eagle and the right wing. Pop 1; 1 finer in AU58. (PCGS # 39993) . Die characteristics: This important Red Book variety has the head of 1794 with flowing hair in six curls. The lowest curl is very small and perfect, and touches the innermost point of star 1, as it continues to nearly complete a loop. Curl end is close to and extends toward innermost point on star 2. Reverse F, as it is called, has three leaves under each wing. It is the only 14-berry variety, seven berries on each branch. There is only one berry on the left branch of the wreath between eagle's wing and ribbon bow, and it is on the inside of wreath. Two berries below the D in UNITED. Conspicuous die flaws at the end of the left ribbon. E in AMERICA double punched at top. This reverse die was used to strike 1795 BB-18 as well as BB-19. Estimated Value $25,000 - 30,000. The Dr. Hesselgesser Duplicate Bust Dollar Collection. View details and enlarged photos Check results on similar lots	Realized $34,500