LOT #6491 |
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1798 S$1 LG EAGLE
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Sold on Jul 31, 1997 for:
$25,271.25
Bid Source: Live: Floor bidder
Description
Finest Known Knob 9, Arc Star 1798 Dollar, B-3--The Milferd Bolender Specimen
1798 Large Eagle MS 63 NGC. B-3, BB-94. This variety represents an important transition among early dollars. It combines the "Knob 9" date style used since the beginning of dollar coinage in 1794 and abandoned in early 1798, with the arc star pattern Heraldic Eagle reverse style adopted in 1798 and used until the discontinuation of dollar coinage in 1804.The "Knob 9" variety as listed in the Guide Book represents only six individual die varieties (including the B-3), with fewer than 1,000 specimens of the type believed to exist in all grades. The present example is the single finest of the type.
This is truly a remarkable early dollar with sharp impressions from both obverse and reverse dies. All the obverse stars are fully brought up with complete radials on each. Liberty's hair curls are equally well defined as are the feathers on the eagle. UNUM on the scroll is weak due to the wear of the reverse die at the time of the striking of this Die State III specimen. Deeply toned, each side has cobalt-blue patina with light undertones of rose and sea-green. Satiny luster gives the piece "life" and keeps the deep coloration from being oppressive or dark. The reverse is especially lively, having apparently been struck from a polished die which in turn imparted a prooflike sheen to that side. On the obverse we note a couple of small planchet flakes out of that side as well as several tiny grease stains (as struck). This is obviously the Bolender Specimen which was graded MS 60 when sold in 1952, and described as, "Uncirculated, except for a few tiny spots, and minute nicks visible under a glass, and the reverse die was worn making UNUM weak in motto. Beautiful sharp impression, mint lustre on obverse, and full Proof surface on reverse." As such, it is the finest example known of the variety by 13 points. It is also the finest known specimen from the entire Knob 9 Heraldic Eagle type. None of the major collections from the past could boast of such a magnificent type coin. The Eliasberg coin is closest with an uncertified MS 60 (of the most common variety). The Amon Carter piece was an XF 40 of this variety, and the Norweb specimen also contained an XF 40 of a more common variety. Curiously, the Garrett Collection did not contain a single specimen of the Knob 9 Heraldic Eagle dollar. A truly rare opportunity to acquire this numismatically important early dollar.
Ex: Col. E.H.R. Green Collection; L.B. Gettys Collection; Milferd Bolender Collection (1952), lot 40; various intermediaries (presumably including the K.P. Austin Collection and A.J. Ostheimer Collection); sold by Thomas Pilitowski into the Denver Collection; acquired by the Cardinal Collection in 1996 when the Denver Collection was absorbed "in toto."
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 24X6, PCGS# 6873, GSID# 7158)
Metal: 89.24% Silver, 10.76% Copper
Weight: 26.96 grams
ASW: 0.77352oz
Mintage: 327,536
Auction Info
1997 ANA Signature Sale #175 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
Jul-Aug, 1997
30th-2nd
Wednesday-Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 2
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 287
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