Lot 2867
1795 Flowing Hair Dollar. 3 leaves beneath each wing. . BB-27; B-5. NGC graded EF-45. Nice medium gray toning on both sides. Clear detail from a sharp blow by the dies. Another very attractive specimen of the distinctive BB-27 variety. The dies for early Flowing Hair dollars were all cut by hand. The engraver, Robert Scot, carefully cut in relief the head of Liberty (the head appeared just as it did on the finished coin) or eagle as was required. For the obverse the head of Liberty was punched into a blank die, and then the necessary lettering and date were also punched in. For the reverse a similar operation took place except that the hub was of an eagle. The dies were then hardened and made ready for use in the hand-operated coining press.
The hubs for the dollar, being intended as a coin of prestige for the United States, were executed with great care by Scot, who also had to contend with his more ordinary duties of producing dies for the copper coinage. No doubt he was visited by Vice President Jefferson and President Washington from time to time to see how the work was progressing, both of whom took a keen interest in the U.S. Mint. (The president's official residence was on High Street, only a few blocks from the Mint.) Pop 11; 21 finer at NGC for this variety.
Estimated Value $8,500 - 9,000.
|
| |
| Realized $9,488 |
