Lot 630
1799/8 B-3, BB-141. Rarity 3 15 stars on reverse. PCGS graded MS-62. Well struck with nice light even toning. Silver gray with iridescent toning on subtly lustrous surfaces along with splashes of medium russet on the portrait and in the fields on both sides. Amply struck and bold from centers to periphery, as fine a looking specimen in this lovely condition as one could hope to see. Some very faint central marks are noted on the face and chest, some gray toning through the R of LIBERTY into the hair, tiny planchet flaw at corner of Liberty's mouth, no major marks or distractions to good eye appeal. The Bowers book notes that several nice Mint State coins exist, making the formation of a Condition Census a challenge, though PCGS has graded very few in Mint condition. A frosty and attractive example of this overdate, such as this one, should attract spirited bidding. Pop 4; 3 finer; 1 in 63; 2 in 64. (PCGS # 6883) .
Variety Notes: BB-141 represents one of three overdate varieties for 1799. On the obverse, the date displays the final numeral 9 in the date punched over top of a previously-punched numeral 8. This specific reverse features what was originally 15 stars arranged in curved arcs, instead of the normal 13. When the engraver discovered his error, he quickly worked to cover the left-most and right-most stars in the top row by drastically expanding the adjacent clouds. His cover-up was incomplete, as the lowest points of both stars still remain clearly visible, peaking out of the clouds. The combination of the overdate obverse and blundered reverse has made the BB-141 variety extremely popular with collectors, and earned it a separate entry in the Redbook, as the 1799/8 15 Stars type.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 22,000.
The Mark Gordon Collection Ex: Cardinal Collection.
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| Realized $24,150 |
