Lot 982
1799 B-6, BB-162 Rarity 4. PCGS graded MS-63. Wonderful blue and golden toning. Highly lustrous and luxuriantly toned with natural antique silver highlights on both sides as described. To say the least, this 1799 Bust Dollar is fully struck. It displays substantial detail at the highest hair curls, including the "lovelock" curl at the neck that oftentimes is invisible on less than well struck examples. All stars on the reverse show the same substantial detail, with full E PLURIBUS UNUM scroll and needle-like crispness in the shield "chief" and vertical stripes. All of which point to the coin having receive a full sharp blow by the dies. Today, Mint State survivors are few and far between in the Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle silver dollar series. Most are noticeably marked up or sporting less than full in the luster category. By comparison, this is an exemplary coin! Pop 1; the finest graded at PCGS for the variety (PCGS # 40053) .
The dies that struck this are what constitute the BB-162 variety. On the obverse, the letters in LIBERTY are close. The first star appears small and thin. The closest star is star 8 which is slightly closer to Y, than 7th star is to L. First star slightly farther from curl than last star is from bust. This obverse die was used to strike 1799 BB-156 (with clash marks), BB-157, BB-161 (now relapped), BB-162, BB-163, and BB-164.
On the reverse, and unique to BB-162 in having been used on no other reverse die marriage, the A in STATES touches clouds. Further, the far right edge of A is over cloud 3. A leaf points to center of upright of I in AMERICA. Letter A touches both 3rd and 4th feathers. A point of one star touches the lower part of eagle's beak; its ray points to left upright of U, slightly to the left of its center. A very close to M, ME joined at lower part. The letters in E PLURIBUS UNUM seem larger and in some instances differently proportioned on this reverse.
Estimated Value $50,000 - 55,000.
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