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Auction 288 | Lot 6685 » Silver and Related Dollars » Early Dollars
1795 $1 Flowing Hair, Three Leaves--Cleaned--ANACS. Fine Details, Net VG8. B-12, BB-26, R.6. Die State I, perfect dies. This is a very rare die variety, and is in strong demand by specialists. A survey recently conducted by the John Reich Society confirms this is an R.6 variety, with an estimated 13-30 examples believed extant in all grades. This obverse was only used to strike this die marriage, while the reverse die was used to create two other varieties. Although the devices are worn, the eagle's left wing has strong details. Unfortunately, this example has been cleaned, and has an unnaturally bright and prooflike appearance. The lower obverse has a few adjustment marks, as struck. There is a trio of miniscule digs near star 12.
From the Cardinal Collection.
Ex: Elite Sale (Superior, January 2002), lot 1181. (PCGS# 6852)
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Grade VG8

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Sold For: $1,380.00
Auction 288 | Lot 6688 » Silver and Related Dollars » Early Dollars
1795 $1 Flowing Hair, Two Leaves VF35 PCGS. B-10, BB-22. R.7. Die State I. This Rarity-7 variety was the subject of a detailed article titled "The 1795 B-10 Silver Dollar - Much Rarer than Thought?" in the John Reich Journal (Volume 13 / Issue 1, July 2000, pages 12-21). Over the years, the 1795 B-10 Dollar has been called R.6, R.7, R.8, and even R.5 in various reference books, as well as by catalogers and specialists. The author concluded that in over 10 years of research "I have only been able to trace 8 different specimens of the 1795 B-10 die marriage offered in the last 120 years!" In an even more recent and exhaustive study by David Perkins, published by the John Reich Society, confirms that only 11 specimens (including this one) are known to exist of this R.7 variety.

M. H. Bolender originally called this variety a Rarity-6 (13-30 specimens known) in the original 1950 publication of his book The United States Early Silver Dollars 1794 to 1803. (Yet Bolender was most likely aware of only 2 or 3 specimens - Bolender's own, the Haseltine Specimen, and possibly one other). [For information on membership in the John Reich Collector's Society or acquiring back issues of the John Reich Journal, please contact Bradley S. Karoleff, Editor, JRCS, P.O. Box 135, Harrison, Ohio 45030-0135; or visit the JRCS website at www.jrcs.org]

The finest known specimen of this die variety has to be the F.C.C. Boyd specimen from the World's Greatest Collection Sale, January 1945. It was graded Uncirculated in this sale. The second finest piece grades XF40, followed by a number of specimens in the Very Fine range. One of the known specimens is counterstamped, with the date '1793' on the obverse. It was "cherry picked" in an E-Bay auction by an astute Northern California early Dollar specialist in early 2000.

The coin offered here is one of three new specimens of 1795 B-10 discovered since the publication of the JR article, bring (PCGS# 6853)
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Grade VF35

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Sold For: $13,800.00
Auction 288 | Lot 6696 » Silver and Related Dollars » Early Dollars
1798 $1 Knob 9 AU58 PCGS. B-7, BB-95. R.5. Die State II. The "Knob 9" Dollars of 1798 are believed to be the first die varieties struck using the Draped Bust obverse paired with the new Large Eagle (or Heraldic Eagle) reverse die. The 1798 B-32, BB-91 Dollar was probably the first of the "Knob 9" die marriages. It mates the obverse die, which was used previously to strike the 1798 13 Stars, Small Eagle variety, with the new Large Eagle reverse. The obverse die for 1798 B-7, BB-95 was used also to strike the 1798 B-6, BB-96 variety. This is the second use of the reverse die, which was used to produce three different die marriages.

The pedigree of this specimen can be traced back to the June 1942 J. C. Morgenthau & Company sale, lot 140. It is one of only a few AU examples known of this rare variety. This specimen is listed twice in the Bowers Silver Dollar Encyclopedia under "Notable Specimens" on pages 279-280. It is the same coin as both the "Auction '87 Specimen, AU-50" and the "Walter Specimen, AU-50." According to both Bowers and the latest early Dollar survey of the John Reich Collectors Society (9/00), this is the finest example of this challenging R.5 variety. After this wonderful near-mint specimen, the Condition Census drops to XF40.

This is a very attractive specimen that displays beautiful medium gray toning on the obverse, with splashes of electric blue on the letters of LIBERTY and in the areas surrounding the date. The reverse is also toned medium gray, with some areas of blue and gold toning. The highpoints show evidence of light rub or wear, and are toned a lighter shade of gray. Traces of luster can be seen in the protected areas, and the reverse is especially lustrous. There are some faint pinscratches that can be seen under magnification in the fields under the date and Liberty's bust. A small scratch is also noted on Liberty's neck, and there is a faint hairline scratch in the field from Liberty's neck and chin, ending before star 13. Some (PCGS# 6875)
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Auction 288 | Lot 6705 » Silver and Related Dollars » Early Dollars
1799 $1 Irregular Date AU55 PCGS. 13 Stars. B-15, BB-152. R.3. Die State II. The 1799 "Reverse of 1798" Dollar is a variety that should be listed in A Guide Book of United States Coins ("The Redbook"), but for some reason it is not. It is the only 1799 variety with the reverse stars arranged in a line pattern as on certain 1798-dated Dollars. It is the only die variety that pairs a 1799 dated obverse with a reverse die used to strike (two) die marriages dated 1798. The reverse die was used first to strike the 1798 B-25, BB-123 variety, followed by 1798 B-24, BB-124. The reverse die was probably then put in storage until it was used to produce the 1799 B-15, BB-152. Bowers termed this reverse die the "Blundered Stars Reverse," so-called as some of the reverse stars overlap the clouds. He speculated, "Perhaps, the engraver had too much rum (or "ayle," per National Archives records) while cutting this die!"

On both 1798 B-24, BB-124 and 1799 B-15, BB-152 there is a die break from the stem to the rim on the reverse, which is quite heavy on this specimen. This example is struck from Bowers Die State II, "not seen by the author" (as of the 1993 publication of this reference).

The obverse of this specimen is toned in shades of medium gray and gold, with some very light adjustment marks noted, primarily on Liberty's hair and the neck. The reverse is toned a light silver-gray color. Much luster survives in the protected areas. There are some light scratches on the obverse between Liberty and the first two stars, and a tiny scratch is located on Liberty's neck. On the reverse, a few light, scattered contact marks can be seen under the toning.

This piece ranks as the #3 specimen on the Condition Census for the variety and is currently tied with one other piece (from a different variety) as the finest 1799 Irregular Date, 13 Reverse Stars Dollar certified by PCGS.
From the Cardinal Collection. (PCGS# 6880)
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Auction 288 | Lot 6704 » Silver and Related Dollars » Early Dollars
1799 $1 AU50 PCGS. B-22, BB-168. R.5. Die State III. This is a rare die variety and is in demand by specialists both for its rarity and for the neat horizontal die break that bisects the reverse. This specimen is struck from a late state of the dies, with multiple die breaks on the lower obverse. There is a die crack from the rim below the date, upward between the 1 and 7 in the date to Liberty. Another die crack can be seen connecting the bottom of the 799 in the date to the first die crack noted, continuing through the lower part of the 1 in the date into the field below, upward and to the left of Liberty's hair.

As typically seen on this variety, the obverse always appears to grade about five points lower than the reverse, and has a slightly "duller" appearance. The obverse and the reverse of this coin are toned a medium silvery-gray. There are some areas of darker toning through the stars on the right, on Liberty's hair, and around the date. There is a tiny scratch on Liberty's chest and a small planchet disturbance is seen in the upper middle of the shield on the reverse.

The consignor noted that he believed this to be the finest known of this rare die variety. We are aware of one other specimen that would contend for this honor, as well as another that is "close behind" (detail grade higher, net grade lower). Regardless, this is one of the finest known specimens of 1799 B-22, BB-168.
Ex: Elite Sale (Superior, 1/02), lot 1189.
From the Cardinal Collection. (PCGS# 6878)
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Grade AU50

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Sold For: $5,750.00
Auction 288 | Lot 6709 » Silver and Related Dollars » Early Dollars
1800 $1 AU53 PCGS. B-1, BB-181. R.5. Die State II. This is another rare die variety for the specialist, and one in a lofty condition. This specimen is struck from a later state of the dies than Die State I, the only die state listed in Bowers for this variety. There are numerous die flaws in the obverse fields, including many in the field from the chin to star 11 and to the rim, similar to the 1800 B-1 sold as lot 172 in Stack's December 1974 sale of the W. Earl Spies Silver Dollar collection.

We are not aware of any examples that could be called Mint State. Bowers had listed only one example in Mint State in his 1993 Silver Dollar Encyclopedia. He called this the "European Specimen. MS-60," Ex: New Netherlands 48th Sale, lot 639. Lot 639 in that sale was an 1800 B-1 Dollar, but it was only graded Very Fine plus, with minor problems noted. Thus, the grade of MS-60 was listed in error, as the coin is VF or so, not Mint State. The next highest specimen listed in Bowers is XF40. Since the publication of the Bowers book, a number of specimens grading AU have come to light. A census on early Dollars in the John Reich Journal (Volume 13 / Issue 2, January 2001) listed five examples in grades of AU50 to AU55. (This specimen was included in that survey). There is at least one other 1800 B-1, BB-181 called AU50, in a specialist's collection not included in this census. A side-by-side comparison might be needed to determine which of these specimens is the "finest known" for the variety.

This specimen is toned a light silver-gray with darker gray around the peripheries. The toning is slightly mottled, with Liberty having somewhat of a cameoed appearance. There are scattered contact marks on both sides, with a number of tiny scratches noted on Liberty's cheek and neck. The coin is nicely centered, and appears to be free from any rim defects.
From the Cardinal Collection. (PCGS# 6887)
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Sold For: $8,050.00
Auction 288 | Lot 6710 » Silver and Related Dollars » Early Dollars
1800 $1 AMERICAI XF40 PCGS. B-11, BB-191. R.5. Die State II. This is a classic rarity in the early Silver Dollar series. M. H. Bolender called this variety a Rarity-7 in his Silver Dollar book, and commented, "Excessively rare variety. It took me 35 years to find a specimen!" Since the 1950 publication of his book, more examples have been attributed and this variety is considered a Rarity-5 today. This and the 1800 B-19, BB-192 die marriages are called the "AMERICAI" varieties because their shared reverse die has a stray die mark that appears to be an "I" after the last A in AMERICA. The 1800 B-11, BB-191 is the rarer of the two AMERICAI die marriages.

This variety is also classified as a "Wide Date, Low 8" variety, along with the 1800 B-10, BB-190 variety, which was struck from the same obverse die. The 1800 B-11, BB-191 variety sees strong demand from collectors building Redbook collections, as both the "Wide Date, Low 8" and AMERICAI varieties are listed in the Redbook.

XF40 is a strong grade for this variety. This original specimen may be among the top 10-15 specimens known. It is toned a nice medium gray color on both the obverse and the reverse, with lighter gray patina over the highpoints. There is a tiny planchet flaw where Liberty's drapery touches the hair that may help identify the pedigree of this coin some day. There are a few minor contact marks on both sides, well hidden by the toning and consistent with the grade.
From the Cardinal Collection. (PCGS# 6892)
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Auction 288 | Lot 6713 » Silver and Related Dollars » Early Dollars
1802 $1 Wide Date VF20 ANACS. B-5, BB-242, R.5. Die State I. This is a very rare die variety, with only 31-75 specimens known to specialists. Although very rare, a number of specimens have been offered over the last few years, most in the intermediate grades of Fine to XF.

This specimen has dense lavender patina overall with lighter gray accents over the highpoints. Sharply detailed for the grade. There is a small scratch in the field near Liberty's nose, but the surfaces are otherwise relatively clean. A pleasing example of this scarce variety--the only variety properly called the "1802 Wide Date."
From the Cardinal Collection.
Ex: Elite Sale (Superior, January 2002), lot 1198. (PCGS# 6896)
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Grade VF20

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Sold For: $1,277.65

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