Lot 1179
1796 Draped Bust Dollar. Small date, large letters. . BB-61, B-4. PCGS graded VF-30. Well struck on a nice clean planchet with medium grey toning and lighter highlights. The Mint experienced various difficulties in 1796, including a yellow fever epidemic. Coinage was anything but easy. On June 1, 1796, Tennessee was admitted to the Union as the 16th state. While other denominations reflected this, 16 stars were not used on silver dollars until 1797, which suggests that obverse dies for 1796-dated dollars were made prior to June. The number of dies employed to create 1796-dated dollars is as follows: 1796 obverses, 4; 1796 reverses, 4 (includes one left over from 1795).
Problem-free surfaces like this are the exception. In addition, the strike is strong for a draped bust dollar of 1796, with all areas complete save perhaps for a hint of lightness at the eagle's body and legs. Choice rims.
Diagnostics include: Small, wide date with 96 close and 6 tipped to the left on BB-61. There is a raised "dot" die flaw over 1 in date and closest to bust, with a tiny extra projection or flaw extending from the space at the bottom of star 11. This and the obverse used to strike BB-66, according to Bowers, were the first two obverse dies cut in 1796, and have the lower right tip of the R in LIBERTY intact. This obverse die used to strike 1796 BB-61 (early state) and BB-62 (late state).
BB-61 employs Reverse A, described by Bowers as "Large letters in legend. Letters AMER crowded and touch at bases. Eight plain berries in wreath. Berry under first T in STATES. Two leaves beneath eagle's right (to observer's left) wing, these having been added by hand in front of the cloud. Small defect in field attached to two denticles below, and slightly left of, left ribbon end. From the same hub used to create 1795 BB-51 and 52, but on 1796 BB-61 not as strongly impressed, with the result that the eagle's breast feathers are not bold. Bolender mentions a die defect in the wreath extending to the right side of the M in AMERICA and the right wing tip. Reverse die used to strike 1796 BB-61 only." Pop 33 (PCGS # 6860) .
Estimated Value $4,000 - 4,500.
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