Lot 1046
1795 Draped Bust $1 B-14, BB-51 O/C Dr. Bust. Rarity 2. PCGS graded AU-55. Some shallow adjustment lins diagonally through the eagle's legs and faintly visible at the rims flanking this area. A nicely toned example in this high-end AU55 grade, and one of the finest order. Medium gray toning graces the faint champagne russet traces on what are exceptionally choice surfaces. Sharply struck for the date, as always, easily finer in sharpness than the Centered Head variety this year. Pop 9; 14 finer. (PCGS # 96858) .
Liberty facing right as before, the hair tied up in a ribbon at back. Transitional design featuring a Draped Bust. The bust was not properly centered in the die work, being placed too far to the left. The highest wave of the hair is under the B of Liberty. Lowest curl is distant from 1 in 1795. Star 1 touches curl. This obverse die used to strike 1795 BB-51 only.
For Reverse K the mint introduced a much smaller "Small Eagle," than before, differently styled than on any of the preceding varieties. Small Letters in legend. The eagle stands on clouds. The new wreath is composed of a palm branch (right) and olive branch (left), the latter with seven berries. A short, prominent die scratch extends up to left from tip of right, inside leaf below (observer's) left wing. Berry under A of STATES; a quick way to identify this reverse.
According to Bowers: "This reverse die is one of the most remarkable in all of American numismatics, and was mated with obverse dies bearing four different dates. The features are cut in shallow relief, and the rim is low." All impressions from the die appear somewhat flat, though the shallow relief does not materially affect the appearance of higher grade coins, which often have exquisite detail like the present example, including a full complement of eagle feathers.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000.
Ex; Hesselgesser Collection.
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