Lot 5046
1798 B-10, BB-109 Pointed 9 Close Date Rarity 5. PCGS graded EF-45 PQ. CAC Approved. Subset of PCGS # 40018. In a new secure plus holder. Condition Census. Five small berries on the branch on the reverse, the two uppermost being closest together. Arc star pattern. Star slightly distant from eagle's beak; star ray points to center of B of PLURIBUS. 13 perfect arrows, some formed better than others. Leaf points to just left of center of upright of I in AMERICA. A die flaw (chip out of die) under end of stem. Berry under right foot of A in AMERICA (compare to the reverse of BB-111, with the berry under the left foot). All specimens seen are lightly struck on the eagle.
Note: As the obverse was used later to coin more 1798 BB-108s, one wonders what happened to this reverse die. Why was its use interrupted. Perhaps, somewhere "out there" is a BB-109 exhibiting a sudden, massive reverse die failure.' Reverse die used to strike 1798 BB-109 only.
1798 BB-109 is another scarce issue. It may be that no more than 31 to 75 exist, nearly all of which are in lower grades. Opinions concerning the rarity of this variety have been the subject of debate. Bolender suggested Rarity-4 (76 to 200 known, if he used the Sheldon Scale), which may be correct at the rarer end of the spread. Others have suggested that fewer than 30 exist. BB-109 is always weakly struck on the eagle and at the center of the bust. Pop 1; 1 finer in 50 for the variety (PCGS # 40026) .
Estimated Value $10,000-UP.
The Dr. Hesselgesser Collection.
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| Realized $9,200 |
