Q. David Bowers
1802/1 [BB-233] B-2. VF with some mint lustre; unevenly struck as usual. $60.00.
1802 [BB-241] B-6. Obverse VF, the reverse Fine plus. Cleaned; one old edge nick opposite the fifth star. $30.00.
1802 [BB-241] B-6. VF. Free of defects of more than microscopic size, golden brown toning and signs of mint lustre. $80.00.
1803 [BB-251] B-1. VF, but a weak strike from worn dies. The left stars, many curls, and the lower part of the bust upon the obverse, and the reverse stars, are all weakly brought up. Couple of reverse rim nicks and evidence of cleaning. $60.00.
1803 [BB-252] B-5. Almost EF, where struck-up; indications of cleaning. Planchet defect (granulation) around TE in UNITED. Medium size nick on the lower neck, surfaces otherwise adequate. $105.00.
1803 [BB-252] B-5. Fine, weak reverse. Suggestions of old cleaning. $45.00.
1803 [BB-255] B-6. EF where struck-up; lovely lustrous iridescent surfaces. The centers are flatly impressed as usual. $112.50.
1803 [BB-255] B-6. Fine, unevenly struck. Little evidence of actual wear, showing appreciable, natural prooflike gloss. $135.00.
Lester Merkin's sale of the A.J. Ostheimer, 3rd Collection, September 18-19, 1968. Catalogued by Walter H. Breen. Mr. and Mrs. Ostheimer lived in Philadelphia and also maintained a home in Honolulu. The Ostheimers developed a deep interest in early dollars, and, among other acquisitions, acquired en bloc the early silver dollar collection of specialist K.P. Austin. (Information from Jules Reiver, telephone conversation with the author, December 2, 1992. )
The 1968 Merkin sale contained many fine coins, but many of Ostheimer's best-such as the Uncirculated 1794 bought at the Lord St. Oswald Collection sale at Christie, Manson & Woods in 1964, and an Uncirculated 1795 [BB-20] B-2 from the same event-were not included. The 1794 and other treasures were sold privately in 1972 to Superior Stamp & Coin Company, Inc., which the next year auctioned the coins as part of the Gilhousen offering. Who knows where the 1795 [BB-20] B-2 went (it was in neither the Ostheimer nor the Cilhousen listings).
Alas, neither the Bolender-Ostheimer book revision nor a definitive catalogue of the Ostheimer holdings ever appeared in print.
1794 [BB-1] B-1. Overall better than Fine, struck somewhat more strongly than average on a planchet showing light adjustment marks (mostly on obv.) and various lamination defects and splits near date, one of them visible also 011 edge and outer rim above second T. Comparatively clean surfaces, in some areas suggesting VF or better; two or three pinpoint nicks, of no importance. Pin scratch in 9. All of legend and stars clear, though 7 and tops of STATES are weak. $2,700.00.
1795 [BB-11] B-3. Brilliant Unc., pale gold toning. Exceptionally sharp strike. $1,250.00.
1795 [BB-13] B-9b. R-4. Brilliant Unc., needle-sharp strike, full breast feathers, full curls, full claws, Full frost. Severe planchet defect On bust, long sliver-like lamination defect at N of UNITED. $1,350.00.
1795 [BB-14] B-4. Almost R-5.Better than VF, irregularly toned, some mint lustre at letters; uneven strike. Minute rim planchet defect. $400.00.
1795 [BB-18] B-7. High R-4. Really Unc., frosty, exceptionally clean surfaces, not fully struck up. Gray and blue tone, reverse iridescent. Obverse slight planchet defects. $1,800.00.
1795 [BB-20] B-2. Fine or better; centers weakly struck. Periphery VF and showing traces of mint lustre at letters. Old scratch joins chin to 12th star. $200.00.
1795 [BB-21] B-1. 1795 over 1195. Choice Unc., obverse field prooflike, reverse frosty. Faint obverse adjustment marks, two minute hidden reverse rim nicks, trivial bagmarks. Minute traces of cabinet friction. Above average strike. $2,500.00.
1795 [BB-24] B-13. High R-7. VF plus, surfaces suggesting EF, striking very uneven with many details full EF and part of right wing flat. Beautiful iridescent tone, Minute pinpoint nick above eagle's head. $500.00.
1795 [BB-25] B-6. R-4. EF. Exceptionally clean, lustrous surfaces, now toned to antique gold with blue at obverse; reverse sharper than obverse with nearly full mint lustre in fields, many border and some central adjustment marks. $600.00.
1795 [BB-26] B-12a. Borderline R-7. Almost VF, RRR. Reverse bolder than obverse, showing traces of lustre. $340.00.
1795 [BB-27] B-5. Borderline Unc., obverse well above AU, reverse fully Mint State and choice. Rainbow toning with lovely natural iridescence; Uneven strike. Faint cabinet friction. Many adjustment marks at left and central obverse; tiny reverse rim nick. $1,500.00.
1795 [BB-51] B-14. R-2, low. Draped Bust. Almost Unc. Iridescent steel, blue and dull gold tone; frosty surfaces, many reverse adjustment marks. Above average strike. Hidden reverse border dent. $2,000.00.
1795 [BB-52] B-15. R-4. Draped Bust; faint beginnings of the B-15a cracks. More or less EF, gray and iridescent tone. Reverse much sharper than obverse; clean, frosty surfaces. $600.00.
1795 [BB-52] B-15a. About Unc. Usual uneven strike, centers not as bold as remainder; faint touches of cabinet friction, small rim nick at top reverse, traces of old cleaning. Struck on a flan full of adjustment marks and with a tiny split at obverse rim above I. $550.00.
1796 [BB-61] B-4a. R-3. EF, central areas weakly and unevenly struck, obverse full of adjustment marks; mint lustre with much iridescent gray and blue toning. Condition Census level. $400.00.
1796 [BB-631 B-2. Nearly R-6. EF, flatly and rather weakly struck as always; beautiful surfaces, some area of practically full mint sharpness. Pastel sunset colors. $400.00.
1796 [BB-65] B-5b. R-3. Large Date, small letters. AU or so, peacock blue and lilac iridescence over mint frost. $425.00.