Q. David Bowers
1803 [BB-255] B-6. Few light scratches and nicks on ob-verse. Fine to VF. $160.00.
The W. Earl Spies Collection sold by Stack's, December 9-10, 1974, comprised a truly memorable cabinet of early dollars by specialized die varieties, including numerous examples of die states not mentioned in the Bolender book.
1794 [BB-1] The first year of issue. (Only one pair of dies used this year.) Strictly VG. The stars are weak at the left as usual, as is the periphery of the coin. Although worn, there is something charming about our first silver dollar surviving the "commercial world" with no more than even wear and not even one tiny area of damage. A lovely coin with natural even pale steel and iridescent toning. $3,100.00.
1795 [BB-11] B-3. Two Leaf variety, but the only reverse with 16 berries. Often called the "Head of 1794." A nice Fine, perfectly even wear on without a blemish. $525.00.
1795 [BB-12] B-11. Two Leaf variety. A 19-berry reverse but in an altogether different style. Haseltine's was only Good and scratched in the field. Bolender only saw one specimen! This lovely coin is Fine and perfect but for one old small reverse edge ding. This could possibly be the finest known, and is listed as a Rarity-7. It really should be a Rarity-8. $850.00.
1795 [BB-13] B-9. Two Leaf variety. The obverse of B-3-11 and the 4 reverse. Fine, with one nick each on the obverse and reverse edges. Rarity-5. $350.00.
1795 [BB-13] B-9a-2. The clashing quite evident, but now the letters are noticeably bifurcated. A borderline VF, with exquisite surfaces and toning. (In this state really a Rarity-6.) $525.00.
1795 [BB-13] B-9a. At this point the coins were struck from clashed dies, the reverse clearly displayed on the obverse. The bifurcation of the letters just noticeable. Fine, with a large planchet defect on the reverse. $230.00.
1795 [BB-14] B-4. Two Leaf variety. The last star entirely under the bust. A nice VF, halo-like iridescent toning about its periphery. $775.00.
1795 [BB-14] B-4a. From the same dies but with a crack developing in the center and another diagonally from the 5th star to the back of the head. VG with a few digs. $375.00.
1795 [BB-15] B-8. Two Leaf variety. The head is poorly centered although well-executed. VF, but noticeably damaged by some severe dents obverse and reverse. From Bolender's Fox sale in 1951. A Rarity-7 item, and since Bolender only used an S point scale it makes this virtually uncollectible. Bolender himself states that he has seen only two specimens in 40 years! $575.00.
1795 [BB-17] B-18. Unlisted in Bolender. The obverse is B- 13, the reverse B-12. EF and wholly prooflike, with but a few very faint scratches between the 1 and 7. Bolender states that he examined 5,000 early U.S. dollars. Obviously he didn't know of its existence when his book was printed. Later though, he announced its discovery. We checked wherever possible and we cannot locate another specimen sold in recent years. A most exciting numismatic find! $1,050.00.
1795 [BB-18] B-7. Three Leaf variety. The only 14 berry reverse. This also is sometimes referred to as the "Head of 1794," but the three distinct curls on the top of the head on the B-3 most closely resembles the 1794 head. A nice choice Fine. Rarity-4. $500.00.
1795 [BB-20] B-2. Two Leaf variety. The diagonal "bar" near the 4th star very faint. VF, with a few light old scratches on the obverse. $550.00.
1795 [BB-21] B-1. Although Bolender says that this head resembles that of the 1794, this cataloguer is more inclined to agree with Bolender that the B-3 is closer to the "Head of '94" (although an exact head doesn't exist on a 1795 dollar). A strong VF bordering on EF. The coin is wholly prooflike and was undoubtedly struck on a polished planchet. Streaky but attractive toning. $600.00.
1795 [BB-24] B-13a. Two Leaf variety. The letters are bifurcated. A choice prooflike EF specimen without a flaw! Bolender states, "Haseltine met with only a single specimen and called it 'probably unique.' " This specimen is by far superior to the Bolender Plate coin, and the cataloguer seriously doubts if a better could exist. Rarity-7. $900.00.
1795 [BB-24] B-13. As above, but the letters are not bifur-cated. Actually this is probably rarer than the 13a. VF, but an "X" is scratched on the neck and another scratch in the field from the chin. Rarity-7. $280.00.
1795 [BB-25] B-6. Three Leafvariety. The hair in six curls. The reverse of B-5. Fine, with small planchet defect on the obverse edge over "E" and the usual circulation marks for a coin of this grade. $320.00.
1795 [BB-26] B-12. Three Leaf variety. Curl passes through a star point. The 13 berry reverse. Strictly Fine with a few reverse rim nicks. Rarity-6. $550.00.
1795 [BB-26] B-12a. Same as the preceding but with a vertical die break from the bust through the 7 and then to the border. Bolender only saw one specimen in his life, his own. Rarity-7 (8 ?). A nice Fine. $360.00.
1795 [BB-27] B-5a. Three leaves below each wing of eagle. Diagonal bar in the field between the 5th star and uppermost curl. The stem break extends only halfway to the edge. Struck on the largest planchet we've ever seen of a B-5. This coin is a borderline EF, with prooflike surface. Pale iridescent toning. $1,400.
1795 [BB-51] B-14. The bust not centered properly. A strong VF with claims to a higher grade. An interesting note about this reverse die is that it was used in striking coins dated 1795, 1796, 1797, and 1798. $625.00.
1795 [BB-52] B-15. The bust centered and by far, aesthetically more pleasing. Strictly VF and a good companion piece to the previous lot. $525.00.
1796 [BB-61] B-4. Small Date, large letters. From the same obverse die, but the curl is perfect and the letters are bifurcated. Fine and choice. $420.00.
1796 [BB-61] B-4a. Small Date, large letters. The obverse is from the B3 dies, the reverse B4. EF, with some prooflike surface. Beautiful iridescent toning. Bolender states that he only knows of one specimen, the Gable Reeder specimen. Of the utmost importance as a high Rarity-7 item. A few others have been discovered since that statement, still it is a most important coin. $750.00.
1796 [BB-62] B-3. Small Date, small letters. The letters NOT bifurcated, and the curl on top of the head imperfect. One of only very few known. Probably a high Rarity-6 or perhaps 7. VF to EF. From our Straus Sale in 1959. $950.00.
1796 [BB-63] B-2. Small Date, small letters. A nice strong VF, mottled iridescent toning. $655.00.
1796 [BB-65] B-5. Large Date, small letters. The rather common variety with the die lump at the right top of "I" in AMERICA. Fine, a few minor nicks and scratches. $300.00.
1796 [BB-65] B-5a. From the same dies as B-5 but the lump is now larger and the other breaks in and around "E" are much more prominent. VG. $330.00.
1796 [BB-65] B-5c. The same dies as the preceding but the lump is now larger as are the other breaks. The letters are all bifurcated, and a short vertical break can now be seen between the chin and the 12th star. EF-AU, with a tiny planchet defect on the edge of the 1st star. $700.00.