Q. David Bowers
1798 [BB-121] B-9a. Shattered and rusted dies. Some areas suggest EF sharpness as do some surfaces, which display mint lustre, but this dollar is weaker in centers especially on reverse, possibly from die failure. Overall grade of VF. Very scarce. $360.00.
1798 [BB-122] B-14a. (Listed as R-6.) Better than VF, some areas suggest EF, mint lustre. Iridescent tone. Rare die state, rarer condition; only one full EF has ever been reported (Miles Collection). This is probably one of three top examples. $575.00.
1798 [BB-124] B-25b. Rare shattered die state. Sharpness of About Fine, surfaces suggest a higher grade; deep gray tone. The weaknesses are from extensive die failure. Ex Kreisberg sale, November 19, 1962, Lot 1172, Ruby. $320.00.
1798 [BB-125] B-24a. Scarce advanced cracks. Obverse nearly EF, lustrous and iridescently toned, reverse VF, weakly struck. $475.00.
1799/8 [BB-141] B-3. Very deeply toned Uncirculated, faintest suggestion of cabinet friction in one or two tiny places on reverse. Equal overall at least to the Miles and Taylor examples; has been called finest known. Ex Baldenhofer, Ostheimer. $5,300.00.
1799/8 [BB-142] B-1a. Unlisted shattered reverse die state. VF, a rather weak soft strike as on the others seen from this die state (Clarke, Davis-Graves specimens). Many times rare than the early state described by Bolender. $430.00.
1799/8 [BB-143] B-2. Fine or better, many light scratches, surface rough and porous-possibly from having rested for years in the sea. $350.00.
1799 [BB-151] B-13. 13-star reverse showing die flaws at E of STATES. Surfaces of AU or better, much mint lustre and only minor handling marks (three on rims, not very noticeable). Touches of cabinet friction consistent with a grade above EF. Extremely rare, underrated by Bolender; a full R-7. In one of three top examples, apparently tied for second finest though of the three (this one, the Austin and the TaylorBaldenhofer coins) there is at most 5 points spread in grade; the other 6 or 7 now known are in Good to Fine. The earliest variety of the year, its obverse a leftover from 1798 though with date originally minus final digit; die break progressions prove that this preceded Bolender-15, Bolender-4 and the three overdates. Hasty punching-in of the final 9, too low and leaning far to right, produced the "Irregular Date." A truly extraordinary coin, pictured (reverse) on the Bolender plate. Ex Bolender, Ruby. $1,200.00.
1799 [BB-153] B-4. Irregularly toned, prooflike Uncirculated, weakly struck in centers but much better struck elsewhere. Advanced obverse cracks. Finer of only two Uncirculated examples reported. Rare in all grades, very rare above VF. Ex KP. Austin, Ostheimer, via Lester Merkin auction, September 1968, Lot 275. $4,500.00.
1799 [BB-154] B-18. Early state with only the first and last breaks mentioned by Bolender. Better than VF, traces of mint lustre, with its quota of minute handling marks. Edge planchet defects (as made) left of date and extending to above E of STATES. Very rare, a high R-6 though possibly not quite R-7. One of the half dozen or so finest, exceeded by three EFs and tied or minutely exceeded by a couple of others not quite reaching EF. Ex Fairbanks 562, Ruby. $450.00.
1799 [BB-155] B-19a. With additional obverse cracks not mentioned by Bolender. Better than VF, some traces of lustre, gray toning. Very rare. Ex Bolender, Ruby. $375.00.
1799 [BB-156] B-7d. Unlisted shattered and buckled reverse dies, one of two latest states seen. Seemingly VF, under a glass some areas display no more wear than would be consistent with EF grade, with plenty of mint lustre. One of only three seen in this die state. Ex Bolender, Ruby. $525.00.
1799 [BB-157] B-5a. AU plus, deep iridescent toning and mint brilliance, but a plain old scratch from nose to 10th star. Ex Bolender, Ruby. $1,150.00.
1799 [BB-158] B-16b. Shattered obverse die, clashed reverse, one of the later die states covered by this number. EF to AU. As fine as the variety comes, exceeded in the earlier and commoner die states by one or two with minutely fewer signs of handling, but so far as we know unsurpassed in the rare late die states. Ex Bolender, Ruby. $1,050.00.
1799 [BB-159] B-23. Almost EF. Early die state, before the clash marks or the bulge developed. Rare and extremely popular type coin. Listed last by tradition, though if this was the last obverse die made it was not the last put into use, as this coin was made after Bolender-16 and before the reverse die was again reground to make Bolender-12. $425.00.
1799 [BB-160] B-12b. The other No Berries variety. Surfaces suggest a grade of AU or better, with plenty of mint lustre and lovely iridescent toning, but there is enough cabinet friction to suggest EF grade. A splendid piece, one for the type collector. Ex Bolender, Ruby. $875.00.
1799 [BB-161] B-11b. "No berries." The reverse breaks much extended and with others not mentioned by Bolender. Nearly VF, irregularly toned, several small rim dents. This was the discovery specimen and the die state remains very rare. Ex O.K Rumbel Collection, 1952 ANA Convention Sale, Lot 3172, Ruby. $375.00.
1799 [BB-162] B-6a. Warmly toned Uncirculated, sharp except in centers (where adjustment marks show on reverse); minute rim nicks. Said to be finest known of this rare variety (R-5 in Bolender). Ex Bolender, KP. Austin, Ostheimer. Pictured (obverse and reverse) on the Bolender plates. $5,500.00.
1799 [BB-163] B-10b. Greatly advanced die breaks, the break through 0 heavy. More or less EF, much mint lustre even in those areas of fields where even brief circulation would have obliterated it; fails to qualify as AU or better only because of a little too much cabinet friction on three or four of the highest places. Few small plain bagmarks on either side, more on reverse than on obverse. Light traces of old cleaning. Well struck for this rare advanced die state, which is unusual. $1,300.00.
1799 [BB-164] B-17b. Advanced die cracks on reverse (at OF and IC) unknown to Bolender at time of writing. Close to EF, softly struck, with some lustre (mostly on reverse) and some signs of old cleaning, now toning down naturally. Very rare, first reported in the Philip Straus estate, fewer than a dozen seen in all. Ex Bolender, Ruby. $575.00.
1799 [BB-165] B-8a. Almost VF, even wear, comparatively well struck, gray tone with electric blue on reverse; unusually free of handling marks except for a small obverse rim nick. $235.00.
1799 [BB-166] B-9c. Shattered obverse die unknown to Bolender at time of writing. Almost VF, two or three small rim nicks either side. This die state very rare. Ex Bolender, Ruby. $425.00.
1799 [BB-167] B-14. VF and scarce; some mint lustre, deep irregular iridescent tone, and obverse shows central adjustment marks, as made. Scarce and important as only one full EF has been seen to date, nothing above. Ex Bolender, Ruby. $350.00.
1799 [BB-169] B-21a. VF. The die cracks and rust marks are more advanced than Bolender mentions, particularly on reverse. Rare. $600.00.
1800 [BB-184] B-12. R in LIBERTY double cut, plain flaw at E of AMERICA. VF. Very scarce and possibly rare; grossly undervalued by Bolender. Possibly the earliest variety of the year, as it has the defective U (corrected by hand on the die) found in some 1799 reverses. Only three are known that definitely exceed EF. Ex Bolender, Ruby. $350.00.
1800 [BB-188] B-8b. Advanced crack through AMERIC unmentioned by Bolender. Much frosty mint lustre with warm irregular tone, but a little too much cabinet friction to qualify as full EF, though some areas do suggest this grade. Reverse struck from worn dies and grades VF. Important, as only two are now known that will grade EF or higher. $675.00.