Lot 1780
1799 Draped Bust Dollar. Normal date. ANACS graded AU-55. Here is a very significant coin for the advanced specialist. This is the second rarest variety of the 22 known die combinations struck during 1799, just behind the BB-151 or B-13 variety as rarest. Further, this coin is well up in the Condition Census for the variety, behind a single mint state coin, and an early die state coin (AU-55), this coin falling in the top half dozen and perhaps as high as the top three for the variety. In color, we note a golden gray tone over luster in the fields, and the strike is sharp and complete. Struck soon after the reverse die cracked between the ED of UNITED through the ribbon to wing of eagle, the crack is present, but not nearly as severe as seen on specimens struck later. We note a touch of multicolored hues below the eagle's tail near the rim. Identifiable by a small planchet flaw on the edge above the right side of the U of UNITED, and a small nick below the D of that word. On the obverse, we note a tiny field mark inside and above the third star, towards the ribbon end. Minor hairlines, as always, but these do not measurably detract.
This is not the Terrill/Austin/Fairfield coin offered in various Bowers and Ruddy sales from the 1970s, and it is far better than the Very Fine Ostheimer coins (1975 ANA) or others offered over the years. No prior pedigree information has been found on this specimen.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000.
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| Realized $5,175 |
