Lot 1054
1797 Draped Bust Dollar. 9 stars left, 7 right, small letters. PCGS graded VF-25. Well struck with lots of detail for the VF-25 grade. Struck on a problem free planchet and all overlaid with uniform antique grayish toning. On this key variety, the 16 stars are arranged 9 to the left and 7 to the right. The highest wave of hair, below upright of E, is lightly defined, probably due to insufficient depth of punching of the Draped Bust motif into the die (and not due to relapping). There is a prominent die-caused lump in field below star 9. Heavy die file lines in front of neck. One is vertical with several others slanting down to right. This obverse die was used to strike 1797 BB-72 (earlier) and BB-73 (later).
The reverse is the same used on 1795 BB-51 with Small Eagle. Small Letters in legend. The eagle stands on clouds; to the sides, the wreath is composed of a palm branch (right) and olive branch (left), the latter with seven berries. A short, prominent die scratch extends up to left from tip of right, inside leaf below (observer's) left wing. Berry under A of STATES; a quick way to identify this reverse. This workhorse reverse was used to strike 1795 BB-51; 1796 BB-62, BB-43, and BB-46 (now relapped); 1797 BB-72; and 1798 BB-81.
How many exist? 1797 BB-72 has been the subject of widely varying estimates of rarity over the years, with some observers stating that as few as 20 are known, while others rank the population at Sheldon's Rarity-4 (76 to 200). The latter seems to be closer to the truth (PCGS # 6866) .
Estimated Value $7,500 - 8,500.
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| Realized $6,900 |
