Q. David Bowers
An interesting episode in regard to the question of rarity of this variety of the 1804 dollar, is the fact that the Idler specimen, which is of the identical variety as this. specimen, is claimed by Mr. Haseltine, the veteran numismatist, to be an absolutely genuine specimen struck in 1804. However, with all the facts before me and a careful comparison of the different dies, I am of the opinion that the specimen here offered is of the so-called Restrike-from the original 1804 obverse die, the same as the Lyman, Idler, and Rosenberg specimens. As there are only but five or six known in all, and of these, I believe, this is the only remaining one that is "purchasable," I consider it of great rarity and high value; worthy of a home in the most extensive and prominent collections of American coins. $840.00.
B. Max Mehl's sale of the E.E. Wright Collection, March. 10, 1925. This cabinet offered a particularly extensive group of early dollars, most of which were attributed to Haseltine numbers.
1795 Head type. Haseltine No. 1. VF. $10.00.
1795 Head type. H-3. Fine. Rare variety. $5.75.
1795 Head type. H-4. VG. $7.00.
1795 Type as last. H-5. VF and sharp. $5.25.
1795 Head type. H-6. Fine to VF, sharp; pin-point nick at third star on left. Very scarce. $5.00.
1795 Head type. H-12. Obv., VG, slightly chafed. Rev., VG to Fine. Haseltine classifies this variety as an "excessively rare variety." Seldom offered. $5.00.
1795 Head type. Three leaves under wings. Fine obverse with VF reverse. Scarce and in demand. $6.00.
1795 Bust type. H-14. Fine. $5.00.
1795 Bust type. H-15. Fine. $6.10.
1795 As last, but reverse double struck. Fine. Rare. I do not recollect of ever having offered another. $5.25.
1796 H-1. VG. Rare variety. $8.40.
1796 H-2. Same as last. Strictly Fine; sharp. Rare, especially so choice. $10.50.
1796 H-4. Fine. $9.00.
1796 Small Date and large letters. VG. Getting rare. $7.00.
1796 H-5. VF; sharp, especially the reverse, traces of original lustre. A difficult and rare date to find choice and as such, quite rare and valuable. Said to have cost over $15.00. $9.50.
1797 H-1. VG. Rare, more so than is generally known. $7.75.
1797 H-2. Obv. VG; rev., Good. Weakly struck as are all of this variety. Haseltine described this variety, over 45 years ago, as a "very rare variety." $6.50.
1798 H-1. Small Eagle reverse; 13 stars; close date. Fine to VF. An unusually choice specimen for this variety. Seldom equaled. Rare. (Cost $15.00.) $8.00.
1798 H-2. Small Eagle reverse; 15 stars; cracked die, from chin to edge. Obv., VF; rev., Fine for coin. Seldom equaled. Rare and valuable. $12.75.
1798 As last but with perfect die obverse. About Fine for coin. $11.00.
1798 Heraldic Eagle, as are all of the following. H-3. VG, nearly Fine. Rare variety. $12.50.
1798 H-8. Good, nearly Fine. Rare. $4.00.
1798 H-9. VG, Good impression. Rare variety. $5.25.
1798 H-11. VG, nearly Fine. Rare die variety. $5.25.
1798 H-12. Stars on reverse, on left, are weakly struck. Otherwise Fine. Very scarce variety. $5.00.
1798 H-25. Fine to VF. Very scarce. $5.00.
1798 The rare type with small eagle on reverse; 13 Stars. VF. Quite a rarity in this choice condition. Valued at $15.00 to $20.00. $16.25.
1798 Heraldic Eagle; close date. Fine; struck off center, giving it a very wide border on left. $5.00.
1799/8 Fine, sharp; stars on reverse small and evenly spaced; clouds nearly covering stars on either side. Fine. Scarce variety. $5.00.
1799 Five Stars to right. VG; reverse, about Fine. Scarce, more so than is generally recognized by collectors. $5.00.
1799 Six Stars to right, no berries on olive branch. Small planchet defect at third star on right. Fine, Very scarce. $3.60.
1799 Six stars. Rev., 5 berries. VG. $4.00.
1799 Perfect Date. Six stars facing; variety with die break on reverse. Nearly Fine. $4.50.
1800 H-11. Fine to VF. Scarce. $3.80.
1800 H-18. Barely circulated, only highest portion shows slight evidence of circulation. A frosty mint lustre. A similar specimen in Haseltine brought over $7.00 over 40 years ago. Comparing the condition and scarcity with equal specimens of large cents, this dollar should bring a correspondingly good price. $8.80.
1800 Date high, stars close. Rev., die break making the legend read AMERICAI. VG. Scarce. $5.00.
1801 H-1. Fine. Scarce. $5.00.
1801 H-3. VG. Scarce. $5.50.
1801 H-4. VG. Scarce. $5.25.
1802/1 H-3. Very plain overdate. About Fine. Scarce. $5.00.
1802/1 H-4. VG. $3.25.
1802/1 Small dent above Liberty head. VG. $3.50.
1802 Perfect Date. H-5. VF, sharp. Rare variety, especially so choice. $5.25.
1802 Perfect Close Date. H-6. Good to VG. $3.65.
1803 H-1. Small 3 in date. VG. Rare. $4.00.
1803 H-5. Obv., About Fine. Rev., VG. Rare variety. $4.60.
1803 Large 3. H-6. Fine. Scarce. $5.00.