Lot 895
1799 B-18, BB-154 Rarity 5. PCGS graded AU-55 PQ. Housed in a new secure plus holder. Pop 3; none finer at PCGS for the variety. The obverse is deeply toned with lovely deep and saturated shades of blue, gold, and russet. The reverse exhibits primarily golden hues. Centers a little weak due to uneven metal flowing into the deepest die recesses; outer margins away from the center increasingly sharp to needle-sharp with full-featured milling at the border and unimpeachable stars to either side of Liberty.
A rare die pairing, on this obverse (Bowers' Obverse 3 designation), star 8 is farther from Y than the first star from curl, or than star 7 is from L, or the last star from bust. The highest curl on top of head is centered under right the edge of E and the space between E and R, the farthest right of any 1799 obverse. This is the same die used for BB-155. The first three obverse stars show light repunching (visible on high-grade specimens). On the left, stars 2 and 3 are much closer than are any other stars to each other; stars 4-5 and 6-7 have the widest spacing. On the right, stars 8-9 and 9-10 are more closely spaced than are the other star pairs.
Reverse F (exclusive to BB-154) has a heavy die crack between E and D through the left wing, to the top of the shield -- the best aid to identifying the variety. Lighter cracks usually through TATES O, from lower part of F to top of A, from border above R, top of I, through CA, stem end, tail, up through NIT. Small point at stem end. A does not touch feathers. Leaf points below left side of upright of I in AMERICA. Point of star touches lower point of eagle's beak. The U and the T in UNITED are repunched. Far right edge of A is over cloud 3. "Usually weakly struck at reverse center," says Bowers, and that applies to this high quality specimen (PCGS # 40046) .
Later die state with extensive cracks through STATES O and from rim between ED into wing and shield. Several other reverse cracks noted as wel such as from the rim above R through those letters, crossing branch tip and tail to feather ends.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000.
Ex: Hesselgesser Collection.
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| Realized $7,763 |
