Lot 1590
1799 Draped Bust Dollar. . BB-158, B-16. ICG graded AU-50. Nice light blue and gold toning with a deeper area of natural dark grap above the 8th star on the obverse. Nice hair detail for the grade, indeed, exceedingly sharp for this year or any date early silver dollar. Ample luster remains as well, providing added virture for the overall eye-appeal.
Known by collectors as the "Close 17 obverse" variety. Left stars distant from curl and L; star 7 is farther from L on this than on any other obverse of the year. Right stars close to Y and bust. This die is quickly recognized by keeping the above in mind. Also, the numerals 1 and 7 closer together on this than on any other 1799 obverse. The obverse die used to strike 1799 BB-158 only. REVERSE I has the U in UNITED defective at upper left part, which is cut off, due to employment of a defective U punch. A point of the star touches point of lower part of eagle's beak; ray points to left serif at left side of U in PLURIBUS. Star under cloud 1 is noticeably smaller than any other. A in AMERICA rests on 4th feather.
From a later die state, after the dies came together (clashed) without an intervening planchet. Notice in the photograph the incuse "waves" above date caused by an impression of the reverse clouds on obverse die. Additional clash marks are also found. It appears that the impact of clashing caused several cracks, including a small crack through upper left of star l; crack from bottom border, through drapery, upward and then curving left toward hair, then abruptly turning upward to area just to left of the front of neck. Others, that eventually led to the shattering of the dies, are also present.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000.
Ex Dr. Hesselgesser.
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| Realized $3,910 |
