1796 $1 Small Date, Large Letters, B-4, BB-61, R.3, AU58 PCGS....

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1796 Bust Dollar, AU58
Small Date, Large Letters
Attractively Toned B-4, BB-61

1796 $1 Small Date, Large Letters, B-4, BB-61, R.3, AU58 PCGS. Bowers Die State I, determined by three arcs in the curls at forehead, the Die State usually seen, with lapping of the obverse die. The B-4, BB-61 Small Date obverse is identified by small numerals with a raised dot die flaw over 1 in the date, while the Large Letters reverse is identified by letter size and validated by a berry being centered under the first T in STATES. Although the B-4, BB-61 die marriage is the most frequently encountered of the 1796 varieties, it is considered scarce with an R.3 rarity rating, with high grade examples being elusive. John Haseltine was the first to describe this variety in 1877.

The 1796 dollar mintage was the second year of the Draped Bust, Small Eagle design, skillfully engraved by Robert Scot, based on two wax models created by talented sculptor John Eckstein in September of 1795. Scot first engraved an incuse original die, from which a hub was raised in relief from great pressure of the screw press. It is known that finer pitched screws were used for hubbing operations at the Mint, which gave a slow squeeze when raising a hub or the next operation of using the hub to sink a number of working dies. The original dies and hubs had only the central devices of the portrait and eagle, as all of the lettering, numbers and stars were punched by hand into the working dies, with some variation in placement and spacing that enables die marriage attribution.

In his well-researched new reference book Eagle Poised on a Bank of Clouds: The United States Silver Dollars of 1795-1798, Harry Salyards stated "With a handful of exceptions, true Mint State examples of 1796 BB-61 have not existed since the last decade of the 18th century." This makes the Borderline Uncirculated example of BB-61 presented here a very desirable coin. There are only small contact marks on this coin, with just enough light luster grazes and high point rub to keep it out of Mint State designation. The toning is lovely, with iridescent hues of gold, russet, and navy blue, along with varying shades of gray. The luster is satiny, and the strike is typical for the variety with some softness in the centers. Overall, a wonderful specimen of the 1796 Small Date, Large Letters Draped Bust dollar.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 24X3, Variety PCGS# 40000, Base PCGS# 6860, Greysheet# 70412)

Weight: 26.96 grams

Metal: 89.24% Silver, 10.76% Copper

View Certification Details from PCGS