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1798 Draped Bust S$1 Lg. Eagle, Close Date PCGS EF40

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 3,500.00 USD
1798 Draped Bust S$1 Lg. Eagle, Close Date PCGS EF40
Henry DeSaussure, the Mint Director, responding to criticisms of the Robert Scot design of 1794-5 and had a new obverse made based upon a drawing by Gilbert Stuart, the prominent portrait artist whose Washington likeness appears on the $1 bill. It is believed the model for the obverse of the draped bust dollar and other denominations was Mrs. William Bingham, a famous belle of the day and friend of both Washington and Jefferson. The dies were done by Jacob Eckstein, a German-born specialist, in September to October 1795; he was probably responsible for the redesign of the reverse as well which was undertaken at the same time.

The revised reverse quite possibly was designed to allow fuller striking of both sides with the new obverse; the old reverse would have been so placed as to leave the eagle almost headless on most normal strikes.) The first strikes of the new design took place in October 1795; by 1798, when this choice specimen was made, the mint technicians had become familiar with the silver dollar's striking characteristics. Dollar coinage continued through the end of 1803. (#6873)