Lot 5060
1798 B-28, BB-118 Pointed 9 Close Date Rarity 3. PCGS graded EF-45. Subset of PCGS # 40018. In a new secure plus holder. Plate coin in the Bowers Borckardt book. Highly attractive and largely smooth light gray in color interesting die breaks around the date. Very well struck, with just an insubstantial touch of weakness at the central hair curls and, which lie opposite to them, at the eagleís chest and portions of the scroll on the reverse. The details are sharper away from the centers, and include nice framing rim dentils on both sides.
The 1798 BB-118 is of medium rarity among die varieties of the year. Bowers put his estimate at 201 to 500 for the number known. "Most of these are in lower grades through VF, although EF pieces are occasionally seen. AU or finer coins are rare." BB-118ís obverse die yeoman's work, having survived seven die marriages before succumbing: BB-113 thru 119. The reverse (unique to BB-118) has its leaf point slightly right of center of the I in AMERICA. The tip of the branch points to tip of the rightmost tail feather. The star is distant from the eagle's beak; star ray points to just left of B in PLURIBUS. This has the Arc star pattern with 13 perfect arrows. Five medium-sized berries, the two at top closest together. Second highest graded at PCGS: Pop 1; 1 finer in 50 for the variety (PCGS # 40035) .
Estimated Value $6,000-UP.
The Dr. Hesselgesser Collection.
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| Realized $5,750 |
