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Sale 53
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Lot 594
1795 B-12, BB-26. Rarity 5 3 Leaves. PCGS graded AU-55. Plate coin for BB book. Outstanding details for the grade. Even toning on both sides. The obverse of this variety carries Portrait II (Head of '95) as described in the Bowers-Borckhardt reference, paired with a reverse Eagle II, Wreath II (3 leaves). Liberty's hair is flowing in six curls, the lowest curl passing through a point of first star, and continues to right, ending in a sharp point. The second curl from bottom points downward to the space between two points of the second star. The hair at top is flat and lacks any "wave." Noticeable is the Wide date, with the 7 and 9 closer than the other figures. Letters IB are spaced too widely. Letter B leans to the right, as do also the T and Y. E in LIBERTY is repunched. Important for collectors is the fact that this obverse die was used to strike 1795 BB-26 only.
The reverse, earlier used to coin BB-25, has three leaves under each wing of eagle, with four leaves below the first S of STATES. The same die again appears on BB-27.
According to Bowers, "1795 BB-26 is believed to exist to the extent of 100 to 150 coins, most of which are in lower grades up to and including VF. Fine grade seems to be about par for this variety, an issue which must have circulated very extensively. The variety is very rare EF and unknown in Mint State. Any specimen which grades EF or higher is Condition Census level.
In his 1881 Type-Table, this was one of the varieties J.W. Haseltine designated as "excessively rare."
Although essentially "as taken from circulation," the smooth, clean, lustrous, mar-free surfaces show a delicate tinge of iridescent blue color cast at certain angles, all on a base of neutral "old silver" gray. As stated above, the toning is even throughout, and immeasurably better looking than on many survivors of the period. Most of the fine detail in the eagle also shows, which gives added value to the collector. A first-rate example and the one coin that sits at the pinnacle of the Condition Census for BB-26. The finest known BB-26 For this variety the next best graded at PCGS is XF-40, at NGC is XF-45. (PCGS # 6852) .
The history of this period: In 1795, Daniel Boone, aided by "buffalo streets" and Indian trails, created the Wilderness Road. This famous route led the way westward for many future settlers. Boone was captured by the Indians several times but always managed to escape. Less fortunate was his eldest son whom the Indians tortured and killed. Boone's wife and daughter Jemima, were the first white women to see the part of Kentucky around Boonesborough. Settling into quiet domestic life did not appeal to Boone. "Too many people! Too crowded! I want more elbow room." He spent his last years in Missouri hunting and trapping. After a short illness, he died at age 86.
Estimated Value $35,000 - 40,000.
The Mark Gordon Collection; From Henry Chapman's sale of the William F. Gable Collection, May 1914, Lot 614; Heritage's sale of the Frank Stirling Collection, February 1986, Lot 1322; Bowers and Merena's Rare Coin Review 62; Bowers and Merena's sale of the Ebenezer Milton Saunders Collection, November 1987, Lot 372; Heritage's sale of March 1988, Lot 935; Bowers and Merena's sale of the Brooks Collection, June 1989, Lot 161; Superior's sale of May 1990, Lot 450; Heritage's sale of July 2003, Lot 8817. Plated in Dave Bowers' Silver Dollar Encyclopedia for the BB-26 variety.
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| Realized $35,650 |
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