5291

1797 S$1 10x6 Stars, Large Letters AU55 NGC. B-3, BB-7

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1797 S$1 10x6 Stars, Large Letters AU55 NGC. B-3, BB-7
<B>1797<img border='0' src='http://www.heritagecoins.com/images/star.gif' width=10 height=10>$1> 10x6 Stars, Large Letters AU55 NGC.</B></I> B-3, BB-71, R.2. Die State III. This lovely and historic coin illustrates an unanticipated problem that the nascent U.S. Mint faced. In 1791 Vermont joined the Union as the 14th state, followed in 1792 by Kentucky. Many of the early Mint issues before 1797 had 15 stars (or links, only on the Flowing Hair, Chain cents), one for each state. By 1796, when Tennessee joined as the 16th state, Mint officials realized that agglomerating stars to coinage designs for each new state could not continue. The 1797-dated dollars are known with stars arranged both 10x6 (only on the BB-71) and 9x7 (on the BB-72 and -73). There are many later exceptions due to die reuse, Mint error, and other reasons, but by the early 19th century, Mint officials began standardizing the number of stars at the "original 13."<BR> This specimen has the 10x6 arrangement, with both dies used monogamously in this marriage. A small dot punctuates the date 17.97. The Large Letters reverse has a leaf ending under the middle of the E in STATES. Stars 9 and 10 are shorter at their inner points, and die lapping has removed the right edges of some of the olive leaves. While most dollars of this year are found in lower circulated grades, this beautiful piece is just a hair's breadth away from Mint State, showing a touch of rub on the cheek and the eagle's breast. However, it is boldly executed on one of the larger planchets for the variety, with good centering, bold dentilation, and excellent detail throughout. The surfaces appear dark gray, but rotation under a light reveals much buried luster and a pleasing copper-gold cast on both sides. There is minimal evidence of contact or other distractions.<BR><I>From The Royal Oak Collection.</B></I>