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Sale 53
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Lot 601
1796 B-5, BB-65. Rarity 4 Large Date Small Letters. PCGS graded AU-55. An extremely fine-looking draped bust, small eagle dollar, a coin with superb characteristics and a wallop from the dies that is amazingly close to complete for a coin of this time period. Attractive toning suggests that the present specimen spent much of its life in an old style coin cabinet or collector's album, away from harsh treatment and always under the admiring eye of its former owners. If you too would like to become its new owner, then prepare a strong market bid for we expect some strong competition.
The "large" size of the date in BB-65 is not all that obvious, but upon study, the digits are indeed slightly larger than the small date variety, and are in the numeral size used the following year, 1797. The 6 in date plainly shows it was double punched; this is visible at the underside of the top of the 6 and the upper inside of the bottom loop. Stars at right are very closely spaced and touch or nearly touch their neighboring stars. Highest wave of hair is below upright of E and is very indistinct, probably due to very light relapping.
"As the numerals bear a close relationship to those used in 1797," explains Bowers-Borckhardt, "this obverse die was probably the final die cut in the 1796 year. Further, the lower right tip of R in LIBERTY is broken; the latest state of any of the four 1796 obverses."
Combined with a small letters reverse, distinguishable by a leaf under A of STATES. There are seven large berries in wreath, and a very small 8th berry is made to show on the inside stem of the lowest sprig of leaves on left. Three leaves beneath eagle's right (to observer's left) wing, these having been added by hand in front of the cloud. Fortunately for today's collector fraternity, the eagle punch impressed "deeply and strongly into the working die." Coins from this die have much better breast feather detail than 1796 reverses. The wreath differs from any other variety with several leaves touching the letters of legend. Quickly identifiable by a lump at right top of I in AMERICA; this lump does not touch C in the earlier state of the dies. Pop 3; none finer at PCGS. Only 6 examples graded for the variety at PCGS (PCGS # 40002) .
Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000.
Ex: Hesselgesser Collection.
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| Realized $23,000 |
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