LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 Jan. FUN Signature Coin Auction #454  / 

2932

1799 $1 7x6 Stars MS65 NGC

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / US Coins Start Price:195,000.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1799 $1 7x6 Stars MS65 NGC
<B>1799 $1 Irregular Date, 13 Stars Reverse MS65 NGC.</B></I> B-15a, BB-152, Die State IV, R.3. The B-15 die marriage combines the "Irregular Date" obverse with the "Blundered Stars" reverse. The Irregular Date obverse is named for its unusual placement of the individual digits. The serif of the 1 is close to the hair curl, its upright about perpendicular to the border as normal. The 7 follows in the normal placement, except it is titled slightly to the right. The first 9 is slightly high, and appears tilted to the left, but is actually also perpendicular to the border. The final 9 is upright, leaning a little to the right in relation to the border. <BR><BR> Stars 3 and 4 on the reverse, the center stars in the top row, each overlap the clouds above them. Reverse stars are arranged in a line pattern, rather than the usual arc pattern, significant as the only instance of a line star pattern among all 1799 silver dollars. It is truly an important transitional variety that bridges the two coinage years. Earlier, the reverse was used with a 1798 obverse die to create 1798 B-24 and B-25 dollars.<BR><BR> A late state of the dies, known to Bolender as B-15a, the obverse die is shattered with several die cracks. A crack through the date curves up through stars 1 to 4, reaching the border at star 5. Another crack begins at the upper right, through the Y and stars 8, 9, and 10, curving through the right field and across the bust and shoulder, eventually joining the first crack at star 1. A crack through RT curves sharply down to the nose and mouth, eventually appearing on Liberty's neck below the chin. A crack joins stars 4 through 7, reaching the border over L, and a crack begins at star 7, continuing to LIBE and the border above the E. The reverse has a crack through ES OF, another through the right wing and field below AMER, and a heavy die flaw joining the stem end to the border. Additional die flaws are seen among the reverse stars. The reverse die has also been lapped, showing weak or absent details, including the berries, that are now extremely small. This example is the latest die state seen, and should probably be listed as a new Die State V in the Bowers-Borckardt scheme.<BR><BR> The quality of this piece is remarkable. Bowers and Borckardt write: "most examples of 1799 BB-152 are in lower grades. Any coin grading AU or better is especially notable. Only a few Mint State coins exist." They estimate the existence of two to four pieces in MS60 to 62 grades, possibly one MS63, and none finer. Since that publication appeared in 1993, a few more high quality examples of B-15 have been identified. We are currently aware of the following Mint State pieces:<BR><BR> 1. MS65 NGC. The present piece; formerly, Heritage (1/2007), lot 1034.<BR> 2. MS64 PCGS Auction '85 (Stack's), lot 1751; Stack's (1/2002), lot 1520; Cardinal Collection (American Numismatic Rarities, 6/2005), lot 38.<BR> 3. MS63 PCGS Bowers (1/1999), lot 1174; Stack's (5/1999), lot 2577; Heritage (2/2005), lot 7328; (11/2005), lot 2193.<BR><BR> This Gem has frosty cartwheel luster on both sides, enhanced by light gold toning with specks of ivory. Deep steel-blue peripheral toning adds to the presentation. Although just short of a full strike, all of the design elements are sharply defined. The surfaces are pristine, without any blemishes.<BR><BR><B>Coin Engraver:</B> Robert Scot<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Coins & Currency (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
Sign In to Bookmark Lot