Q. David Bowers
1794 There is only one type and variety of this, the first issue of our dollar. Fine to VF. A planchet depression from about the middle of neck to edge. The stars on left not as bold as those on right; the legend on reverse also not as boldly struck on left. Without the planchet mark, the coin would have been at least a $350.00 specimen. A most acceptable specimen of this rare dollar. Far above the average. Cost $190.00 about 30 years ago. $217.50.
1795 Small Head type; star touching bust. Reverse; two leaves under wings. EF with considerable mint lustre. Very rare: The rarest 1795 dollar, and extremely rare in this choice condition [Mehl likes the word "rare" here!]. Originally purchased from Henry Chapman at $50.00. $30.00.
1795 Head type. Reverse, three leaves under wings. Magnificent Unc, specimen; sharp and perfect in every respect. A gem, and as such, very rare and valuable. Just about as perfect as the day it dropped from the press. $67.50.
1795 Second type, bust. Reverse, eagle on clouds. just a shade from Unc.; highest portions show slight cabinet friction, but with brilliant mint lustre. Said to have cost $50.00. $30.00.
1795 Bust type. Variety with bust closer to left; star on right does not touch bust, and star on left has two points touching curl. EF, with considerable lustre; perfectly centered. Very scarce. $13.50.
1796 Small Date. Reverse, large letters. About Fine. Scarce. $7.65.
1796 The extremely rare variety with small date and small letters. VF, with considerable mint lustre. Catalogues at $35.00" but difficult to obtain at this price, especially so choice. $27.00.
1796 Large Date and small letters. Variety with die break at IC. Fine to VF. $12.75.
1797 9x7 stars. VF, with some lustre. Very scarce. $10.00.
1797 10x6 stars. VF, with frosty mint surface. $15.75.
1798 Variety as last; small eagle on reverse; 13 stars on obverse. Variety with die break through second T in STATES. Strictly VG. Very scarce. $10.50.
1798 Heraldic Eagle. Small stars on obverse. Date and stars distant and evenly spaced. Reverse, struck off center to left. The edge reads VNI instead of UNIT. Nearly Unc, with mint lustre. A common date but scarce variety and rare condition. $7.85.
1798 Heraldic Eagle. Date high; star on right close to date. Obverse struck slightly off center to right with raised borders on left. $7.75.
1799/8 VF, with frosty mint surface. $8.40.
1799 Perfect Date. VF; sharp, with considerable lustre. Only slight touch of circulation. $8.50.
1799 The rare variety with five stars to right of bust. VF. Rare, listed at $15.00. $9.00.
1799 Perfect Date, six stars to right. Counters tamped with EB in rectangular punchmark in top center of head. The letters, EB are of the identical type as found on the Brasher doubloon. We know that it was the custom of Brasher to stamp all gold coins that passed through his hands. I do not at this moment recall ever having seen a silver coin with his counters tamp. This is the first I have ever seen. After a very careful examination I unhesitatingly say that the counterstamp is contemporaneous. At any rate, it is a most interesting item. The coin is in strictly VG condition. $10.00.
1800 Perfect Die. Just a shade from Unc, with considerable mint lustre. Rare so choice. Cost $20.00 over 20 years ago. $9.60.
1800 Variety with die break on reverse, making the legend read AMERICA!. Strictly Fine. $4.70.
1800 Perfect Die. Variety with stars close to bust and curl.
Reverse, legend close to clouds. Just a shade from Unc., with frosty mint surface. Quite rare so choice; in fact far more so than is generally recognized. $11.10
1801 Unc., frosty mint surface. Perfectly centered and struck, with every star filled. A rarity in this remarkable condition. Certainly far more rare than an Unc, cent of this year which is worth at least $50.00. $21.00.
1802 Perfect Date. VF with some lustre. $6.25.
1802/1 Very plain overdate. EF, with considerable lustre. Cost over $10.00 many years ago. $9.30.
1802 Perfect Date. Struck from the dies of the 1804 dollar, but at a later date. It is the same dies as the "King of American coins." The 2 in the date is entirely different than that of any other 2 of this date dollar. Raised borders. Perfect Brilliant Proof. Just as rare as the second issue or so-called restrikes of the 1804 dollar of this variety [which sold for] $840.00 about 19 years ago. Since then a specimen sold at private sale for $1,500.00. While this date, 1802; is not as desirable as the 1804, but as mentioned before, it is just as rare and should bring well into the three-figure mark. A gem, and of highest interest. $127.50.
1803 Small 3 in date; Highest portions show slight cabinet friction, otherwise Unc, with semiproof surface. A beautiful specimen of this rare variety. Listed at $15.00 in VF condition. This one should be worth a great deal more. $15.75.
The Famous Dexter 1804 dollar, one of only six originals known or ever discovered. This great coin was first discovered, as were many other choice and great American rarities, in Europe, in 1884, by one of the Chapman brothers, who acquired it from the famous Berlin numismatist, Adolph Weil. The Chapmans offered it in their sale of May 14th and 15th, 1885. Description of the 1804 dollar as it appeared in the Chapman catalogue of 1885:
"1804 .... Weight correct, 415.8 grs., the legal standard being 416 from 1794 to 1837. In superb, EF condition, with beautiful Proof surface, as fine as, if not the finest of the seven known. We guarantee it genuine." ...
Fortunately, Mr. Dunham preserved the original "Certificates of Genuineness" which S.H. & H. Chapman furnished
This is only the second original 1804 dollar that I have had the great pleasure of handling in my 40 years of numismatic business. The other specimen was in my sale of the James H. Manning Collection, in 1921, where the 1804 dollar, which was the least choice in condition of the six originals known, brought $2,500.00 plus 5%. It was purchased by a dealer for whom, about two years later, I sold it for $3,200.00, to a private collector. About three years after I made this sale, I was commissioned by a prominent collector to endeavor to secure for him an original 1804 dollar. I offered the purchaser of the Manning dollar $5,000.00 for his coin, but my offer was declined ....
Such great collections as the Col. E.H.R. Green, which is at least a two million dollar collection; the Waldo Newcomer Collection, a million dollar collection; the Virgil M. Brand Collection, which was appraised at three and one half million dollars, and many other great collections, did not possess an original 1804 dollar. The Harlan P. Smith Collection, which contained all the rare gold half eagles, including the 1815 and 1822; the Earle Collection, which brought over $50,000.00 in 1912, did not have an 1804 dollar. Colonel Green and Mr. Newcomer were willing to pay almost any price to obtain a specimen, but none were available.
As has always been truly said that-"ownership and pride of possession contribute a large part of the pleasure of collecting" -surely, then, the joy and pride of ownership of this famous coin, "the King of American Coins," can never be measured in dollars and cents. Its acquisition will provide a thrill which only a true collector can appreciate and enjoy-its ownership, a treasure to be valued and enjoyed an entire lifetime, and which will always be the source of untold dividends in pride and happiness: [Then followed eight pages of letters and certificates.] $4,250.00.