Lot 3042
1798. Large eagle, wide date, 13 arrows. BB-109, B-10, Rarity 5. NGC graded EF-45. Lovely blue iridescence at the rims. A refreshingly attractive example of this scarcer variety with the pointed 9, wide date of 1798, something for the specialist of this actively collected series. A few adjustment marks on the shield but struck with systematic exactness throughout, if one ignores the central part of the the eagle's neck where a somewhat rounded impression was left by the dies, affecting a few letters in E PLURIBUS UNUM which are indistinct.
From the Bowers encyclopedia: "1798 BB-109 is another scarce issue. I estimate that 75 to 125 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; 2 finer; 1 in AU53; 1 in MS62.
Estimated Value $4,500 - 5,000.
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| Realized $5,175 |
