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Description

Wonderful 1795 Flowing Hair, Three Leaves Dollar
B-5, BB-27, MS62

1795 $1 Flowing Hair, Three Leaves MS62 PCGS. B-5, BB-27, R.1. Die State III. By far the most common of the 1795 Flowing Hair dollars, the variety is instantly diagnosed by the spur of metal behind Liberty's uppermost lock of hair. The lowest curl is distant from star 1, and the pointed bust signifies the Head of 1795. The die state of this coin is characterized by a die crack that begins at the tip of the leftmost olive stem and runs into the field near the rim. The Bowers-Borckardt Silver Dollar Encyclopedia notes that this die state is common, but specimens from the die state are usually better struck than those from Die State II.
While the Bowers-Borckardt Silver Dollar Encyclopedia lists "Notable Specimens" of the B-5, BB-27 issue up to MS64, that reference is now 15 years old. The PCGS website also is of limited usefulness in determining a reliable count of top-grade BB-27 dollars. PCGS has begun only recently assigning unique PCGS numbers to some specific early varieties including early dollars, and few coins as yet have been graded and appear in the population data with those numbers. However, PCGS has certified more than 1,300 1795 Three Leaves silver dollars (precious few of them in Mint State, however), and it is a safe bet that a considerable percentage of them are this most common BB-27 die marriage.
None of the foregoing to is to say this wonderful type coin, however, is common. In MS62 and finer grades, PCGS has certified only 20 Mint State 1795 Three Leaves dollars of all varieties. There are precisely four 1795 Three Leaves in MS62, with another dozen finer. If one assumes that BB-27 dollars constitute, say, 60% of all Three Leaves dollars, then that would mean that two or three of those MS62s are BB-27s, with another seven coins finer.
The present example offers many pleasing specifics, beyond the generalities we have presented so far. Both sides are well centered, with full denticulation throughout. While the obverse in particular appears a consistent olive-green, under a light the patina resolves into flashes of gold and pink. The reverse is more richly colored, with patches of blue and sage. Both sides show considerable die rust, and the contact marks that account for the grade are minimal and altogether undistracting. The strike is generously bold, with wonderful articulation present in the eagle feathers and in Liberty's hair. (Registry values: N10218)

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 24WZ, PCGS# 6852, Greysheet# 7145)

Weight: 26.96 grams

Metal: 89.24% Silver, 10.76% Copper


View Certification Details from PCGS

Auction Info

Auction Dates
Jul-Aug, 2008
30th-3rd Wednesday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 15
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,356

Buyer's Premium per Lot:
15% of the successful bid per lot.

Sold on Jul 31, 2008 for: $80,500.00
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