January 25-28, 2004, The Pre-Long Beach Coin & Currency Auction
Sale 23

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Dollars

Flowing Hair Dollars

Choice About Uncirculated 1795 Flowing Hair Dollar

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2522    1795. 2 leaves beneath each wing. B-1, BB-21, R.1. PCGS graded B-1, BB-21, R.1. AU-55. Popular flowing hair type. Toned with gold, blue, and grey shades throughout. A truly beautiful example with excellent detailing in Liberty's hair and on the eagle's feathers (weak only on the highest point of the breast). A classic, somewhat simple American design that has entered the hearts and dreams of most collectors. Population 12, with 17 finer.

The Flowing Hair design first appeared on U.S. Silver Dollars in 1794 and continued through part of 1795, when it was replaced by Robert Scot's Draped Bust type.
Estimated Value $15,000-18,000.
 

Wonderful 1795 2 Leaves

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2523    1795. 2 leaves beneath each wing. B-2; BB-20. ICG graded AU-55. A well struck and very pleasing example. The strike is full and the planchet is free from adjustment marks and other impairments. The surfaces are a delightful gunmetal grey with lighter golden tones around the devices and peripheries. This early Flowing Bust Dollar is certain to find many suitors for its lustrous surfaces and desirable antique toning.
Estimated Value $15,000-18,000.
 

Attractive 1795 Slver Dllar

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2524    1795. 2 leaves beneath each wing. BB-21, Bolender-1, Rarity-2. NGC graded EF-45. Nice, natural, lilac-gray toning. Evenly worn and essentially problem-free (the two planchet voids at the top of the reverse were defects in the planchet before the coin was struck). A perfect coin for the type collector. Early American Silver Dollars are among the most popular and eagerly sought-after of all U.S. coins.
Estimated Value $8,000-10,000.
 

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2525    1795. 2 leaves beneath each wing. B-1. BB-21. Sharpness of Fine-12 Holed, plugged and repaired. Although defected as described, the detail is quite pleasing and the overall tone of a light grey is appealing too. Quite unusual as the head of Liberty shifted causing an easily seen doubling.
Estimated Value $500-750.
 

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2526    1795. Silver plug. B-7. Rarity 4. Sharpness of Fine-12 Cleaned, burnished and retoned. Double strike noticeable at stars and date. This is the only variety with 14 berries on the reverse. The wear is evenly distributed and the overall appearance is quite pleasing with a light to medium, slightly iridescent, grey color.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,250.
 

Draped Bust Dollars

1796 Bolender-4 Silver Dollar Rarity

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2527    1796. Small date, large letters. B-4, R-4. PCGS graded EF-40. Nice, original toning with partial mint luster visible. Well struck, with a few minor adjustment marks on the obverse center. Pleasing for both the grade and the variety. PCGS has graded 16 at this level and only 30 finer (the best appearing in AU-58).

The Bolender 4 obverse was also used (theoretically, at least) on the B-3 variety. However, Jules Reiver, numismatic researcher and author of "The United States Early Silver Dollars 1794 to 1803", writes that he does not believe Bolender-3 to be a legitimate variety. So, here's the challenge. Keep an eye out for a 1796 Silver Dollar with a large, raised dot over the 1 of the date combined with a Small Letters reverse. If you find one, you will have helped solve this mystery, plus you'll have an extremely valuable example of the B-3 variety. Happy hunting (and let us know if you find one)!
Estimated Value $6,000-6,500.
 

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2528    1797. 9 stars left, 7 right, large letters. B-1 (Rarity 4). Sharpness of VF-20. Deftly cleaned and retoned.
Estimated Value $1,700-1,900.
 

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2529    1797. 10 stars left, 6 right. B-3, R.2. PCGS graded EF-45. Large Letters, Small Eagle reverse. Nicely struck and well-centered on a broad, full planchet. Mostly bright, with a hint of light toning on both sides. Scarce as a date; this being the most available and affordable variety of the year. PCGS reports 17 examples at this level and only 22 finer.

This variety, with 16 stars (configured 10 left and 6 right) is believed to have comprised the entire delivery of 2,493 Dollars made August 12-18, 1797, just before the mint closed on account of a Yellow Fever epidemic.
Estimated Value $6,000-7,000.
 

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2530    1798. Small eagle reverse, 15 stars on obverse. B-2, R.5. PCGS graded VF-30. Original gray and lilac toning on both sides. This is the only 1798 Silver Dollar with 15 stars on the obverse (in the earliest years, the Mint planned to add another star each time a new State was added to the Union, but this plan was scrapped when they ran out of room on the coins)! The reverse die of this variety was also used on coins dated 1795, 1796, and 1797, but always in limited issues. Thus, apart from being an attractive coin, this piece has some stories to tell, as well.
Estimated Value $4,500-5,500.
 

Choice 1798 Bolender-1 Silver Dollar

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2531    1798. Small eagle reverse, 13 stars on obverse. B-1, R.4. PCGS graded EF-45. Nice, even, medium, olive-gray toning. A sharp, uniform strike resulted in excellent details. Although this piece spent some time in circulation it is none the worse for wear and still retains some of the original (albeit faded) mint luster. The reverse features a tiny puncture wound between the T and E of STATES and the second T of STATES has a small die break that connects it to the rim above and the wreath below. Perfect for type purposes, except that you might have to pay a premium for the variety. PCGS reports 8 at this level and 14 finer (the best reaching only the AU-58 level).
Estimated Value $6,000-7,500.
 

Impressive 1798 Small Eagle Reverse

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2532    1798. Small eagle reverse, 13 stars on obverse. B-1a. ANACS graded EF-40. Dark, greyish toning on both sides. Good details for the grade. This is one of only two Small Eagle varieties for the date - the other (also offered in this sale) has 15 stars. Both Small Eagle varieties were most likely emergency issues made in the confusion following the closure of the Mint in 1793 because of a yellow fever epidemic. Similar anachronisms appear in the Half Cent and Half Eagle series.
Estimated Value $6,000-7,000.
 

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2533    1798. Heraldic eagle reverse. B-7; BB-95. ICG graded VF-25. Nice original toning.
Estimated Value $1,500-1,800.
 

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2534    1798. Heraldic eagle, Pointed 9, Wide Date. B-11 (Rarity 3). Fine-15. Lightly toned and evenly worn. We note a minor planchet defect between the ER of LIBERTY.
Estimated Value $950-1,050.
 

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2535    1798. Heraldic eagle reverse, wide date, 13 arrows. Point 9. BB-105. NGC graded AU-58. Struck on a problem-free planchet with nice even original toning on both sides. Pop of 1 with none higher for the variety.
Estimated Value $7,000-7,500.
 

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2536    1799 Normal Date, 13 Star reverse, BB-15, Bolender-19, Rarity-5. PCGS graded EF-45. Lilac gray, with silvery high points. The rarity of this variety can be attributed to the die cracks that begin at the rim opposite the third star and extend right towards the bust and downward through the first two stars and connect with the lowest hair curl -- we doubt if the die lasted much longer. This is a nice, problem-free EF example of a rare variety.
Estimated Value $3,500-4,000.
 

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2537    1799. 13 Star Reverse. B-14 (Rarity 2). VF-35. Nice detail on a decent planchet that has been retoned to a uniform dark violet-grey.
Estimated Value $1,900-2,000.
 

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2538    1799 Normal Date. B-19. BB-155. ANACS graded VF-25. Evenly struck on a problem free planchet save a scattered mark or two in the unprotected fields. The rims are clean and all is overlaid with light to medium grayish-violet toning.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,500.
 

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2539    1799 Normal Date. B-7 (Rarity 4). VF-20. Probably cleaned long ago, now retoned to a medium to dark grey with violet hue highlights. We note a couple of marks on the obverse behind Liberty's head and a rim bruise at 1 o'clock.
Estimated Value $1,100-1,250.
 

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2540    1799 Regular Date, 13 Star Reverse. B-12 (Rarity 3). Fine-12. A pleasing coin for the grade. The wear is evenly distributed and the rims are fine. We note a few scattered antique scratches in the obverse fields, all lightly toned.
Estimated Value $900-1,000.
 

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2541    1799 Irregular Date. B-10. Rarity 3. Sharpness of Very Good. Cleaned at one time with some fine scratches. Interestingly double struck date.
Estimated Value $400-500.
 

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2542    1799. Irregular date, 13 stars on reverse. PCGS graded EF-40. Well struck with excellent detail for the grade all on a nice problem free planchet. The rims are nice and clean and there are no noticeable marks or scratches worthy of note. The surfaces are light to medium grayish-violet in color. A most desirable 18th century silver dollar.
Estimated Value $2,250-2,500.
 

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2543    1799. Irregular date, 13 stars on reverse. B-12 (Rarity 3). VF-35. The wear is evenly distributed with plenty of detail to justify this numerical grade. The surfaces are decent and the rims are clear of nicks or bruises. All is overlaid with a mostly even medium grayish-violet tone.
Estimated Value $1,900-2,000.
 

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2544    1799, 9 over 8. 13 stars on reverse. B-3 (Rarity 5). PCI graded AU-53. A decent strike on a problem-free planchet with attractive light even grayish-violet toning with some golden highlights.
Estimated Value $4,500-5,000.
 

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2545    1800. B-1 (Rarity 5). ICG graded VF-35. Nicely struck on a problem free planchet with the wear evenly distributed. Attractive light to medium antique toning on both sides. We note a minor flaw on the reverse after the last A.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,500.
 

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2546    1801. B-1 (Rarity 4). PCGS graded VF-30. A slightly uneven strike on a nice problem free planchet; all, lightly toned.
Estimated Value $2,500-2,800.
 

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2547    1801. B-2 (Rarity 4). Sharpness of Very Fine. We note some rim nicks and old scratches. Lightly toned.
Estimated Value $800-900.
 

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2548    1802, 2 over 1. Narrow date. B-4, R.5. PCGS graded VF-35. Even, natural toning on both sides. Popular overdate Dollar. Completely original and never cleaned or abused.
Estimated Value $2,300-2,700.
 

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2549    1802, 2 over 1. Narrow date. PCGS graded VG-10. Even wear with original toning.
Estimated Value $700-750.
 

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2550    1803 Large 3. B-6 (Rarity 2). VF-20. Cleaned long ago, now retoned quite nicely.
Estimated Value $1,800-2,000.