Lot 1794
1802/1 Draped Bust Dollar. Narrow date. ANACS graded EF-40. A rare coin in this grade and a variety that is seldom offered at all. Toned a medium gray in color, with hints of blue around the periphery of both sides. Typical handling marks, with some small rough areas hidden in Liberty's hair. We note that the rims and fields are generally well preserved, and no adjustment marks are present.
During 1801, several obverse dies were prepared and dated, and apparently not used. When 1802 rolled around, 5 different obverse dies were repunched with a 2 over the final 1. These five different obverses were paired with two different reverse dies to create five varieties of overdates (Bolender 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9 and Bowers-Borckardt 231, 232, 233, 234 and 235). In terms of rarity, only the B-9 or BB-235 commands a big premium, while the rare B-1 and B-2 (BB-231 and 233) are finally starting to be recognized as rarities in their own rights. This particular coin is tied for fourth finest in the recent Bust Dollar survey, published by the John Reich Collector's Society in their Journal. We note that this coin is conservatively graded, and buyers would do well to make up their own mind about the grade (as always).
Identifiable by a tiny pit at the top of the 1 in the date, and a minor tick at the center of the same digit, and a tiny dig just right of the upper loop of the B in LIBERTY. In the extensive auction survey done in the Bowers Borckardt book, only 39 auction appearances of this variety were noted from a survey of 701 auction sales through 1992.
Estimated Value $1,750 - 2,500.
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| Realized $1,955 |
