Lot 883
1798 Small Eagle 13 Obverse Stars B-1, BB-82 Rarity 3. PCGS graded AU-58. CAC Approved. Housed in a new secure plus holder. A gorgeous example of this desirable variety. The obverse exhibits an array of colors including gold, blue, olive green, and a trifle of magenta. The reverse toning is particularly impressive. Identifiable by a small planchet flake at the end of the lowest hair ribbon; there are a couple of small marks near the tip of the right wing (facing). Pop 1; none finer at PCGS for the variety.
Obverse 2: 13 Stars (standard star count of the year), arranged 7 left and 6 right. Close date, knob 9, figures 98 close. Squared-off bottom to 7. The space between stars 6 and 7 is wider than the spaces between any stars 1 through 6. On the right, the space between stars 10 and 11 is wider than the spaces between any stars 8 through 13. Ray of star 13 points at junction of bosom and drapery. Obverse die used to strike 1798 BB-82 (earlier use) and BB-91 (later use).
Reverse B: Small Eagle, Large Letters style. Struck from the same die used to strike 1797 BB-73. Eight berries in left branch. Lowest berry near ribbon bow is on inside of wreath. E of STATES lightly repunched. A leaf points to the left corner of the I in UNITED, another leaf points to the left corner of the first T in STATES while another leaf points to the very end of the O in OF. Another leaf is positioned away from the R in AMERICA.
This reverse die was used earlier to strike 1797 BB-73 dollars, Die States I through IV, then removed from the press and used to strike 1798 BB-82 Die State I (with cracks slightly advanced from 1797 Die State IV) and Die State II (equivalent to 1797 BB-73 Die State V), then the striking of 1798 BB-82 dollars was discontinued, and the reverse die was re-mated with the same 1797 obverse, and additional 1797 BB-73 dollars were struck. Reverse die used to strike 1797 BB-73 and 1798 BB-82.
Of the two 1798 die varieties with Small Eagle reverse (BB-81 and BB-82), 1798 BB-82 is the more plentiful, but only by a slight margin. 1798 BB-82 is the only 1798-dated dollar with 13 obverse stars in combination with the Small Eagle reverse; all others are mated with the Heraldic Eagle reverse.
An estimated 700 to 1,000 1798 BB-82 silver dollars exist. Several hundred specimens exist, most of which are VF. EF examples are quite scarce, and any coin in better grade is rare (PCGS # 40006) .
Estimated Value $70,000 - 80,000.
Ex: Hesselgesser Collection.
|
| |
| Realized $356,500 |
