Q. David Bowers
1797 [BB-71] B-3. Stars 10x6. Large planchet. Unc., full frosty mint lustre. Natural sea green, golden, and iridescent toning. Just a touch of friction On the cheek (which really is only missing tarnish) from the gem category. A beautiful and rare coin. $3,750.00.
1797 [BB-71] B-3a. Same as above, but struck on a smaller planchet. It makes for a much neater appearing coin with its even denticles and square edge. EF, with lovely iridescent toning. $1,200.00.
1797 (BB-72] B-2. Stars 9x7. Small letters. The obverse is Fine, the reverse is Good to VG. This is tobe expected since the reverse die already had a good deal of use. A rare type and really quite nice. $750.00.
1797 [BB-73] B-1. As above, but with a myriad of fine die cracks. A choiceVF. $450.00.
1797 [BB-73] B-1. Stars 9x7, large letters. Lightly burnished in an effort to remove adjustment marks. Still a beautiful VF specimen. $310.00.
1797 [BB-73] B-1a. Same as above, but with the various die cracks as mentioned by Bolender. Nearly VF, deep steel and iridescent toning. A splendid specimen. $400.00.
1797 [BB-73] B-1b. As above, but the die cracks are more pronounced including the cracks on the reverse. Fine, but with a serious gouge before the face. $200.00.
1797 [BB-73] B-1c. Another specimen of this rare die state. Fine. to VF, some cleaning marks before the face. $320.00.
1798 [BB-81] B-2. 15 Star obverse. Small Eagle reverse.
This is the only 1798 dollar with 15 stars. The obverse is strictly Fine, the reverse VG. $450.00.
1798 [BB-82] B-1a. 13 Star obverse. Small Eagle reverse. The same reverse die as 1797 B-1 C. The obverse is a strong VF, the reverse Fine to VF. Here again an old die was resurrected, therefore the coin's reverse would prove to be not as sharp as the obverse. Lovely pale steel toning. $420.00.
1798 [BB-91] B-32. Unknown to Bolender or Haseltine. A new variety having the obverse of B-6 (Knob 9) and the reverse of B-17 (10 arrows). The rim break over the "I" in AMERICA clear. Here again, anew discovery in excellent condition. EF, with a few insignificant marks on the obverse. The only other specimen we know of is the Straus coin originally given the B-33 number and now changed by us to accommodate the discovery B-33 and B-33A in this sale}. $525.00. [This is known today as BB-91.]
1798 [BB-92] B-4. Knob 9. From the same obverse dies as B-3, but the die break is not evident at all and the fourth star point recutting is very clear. Many of the letters are bifurcated. A beautiful coin. EF to About Unc. $625.00.
1798 [BB-92] B-4a. As above, but most of the letters are not bifurcated. The break is not evident. VF. $350.00.
1798 [BB-93] B-5. Knob 9. The variety with the massive vertical break which bisects the reverse. Fine to VF, and a Rarity-7. Both Haseltine and Bolender each saw only one specimen. $330.
1798 [BB-93] B-5a. Knob 9. The B-3 obverse and the 5 reverse before it shattered. Virtually none of the breaks are evident on either obverse or reverse, but it does have a tiny crack from the rim to the right pendant of "T" of LIBERTY. VF. Unknown to either Haseltine or Bolender and probably unique. $280.00.
1798 [BB-94] B-3. Another. Fine, evenly struck and worn. There is quite an obvious die crack which starts at the rim and goes between the second and third stars, terminating at a point of the second star. The previous double struck coin has this crack sharply in evidence. $300.00.
1798 [BB-94] B-3. Knob 9. A freak specimen in that it was double struck. The stars are now undersized because of the double strike, giving the coin a most curious appearance. At least EF, and probably a trifle better. $550.00.
1798 [BB-95] B-6. Knob 9. The "comma" variety. Struck from the rare perfect dies. EF and very choice but for a few minor handling marks here and there. $540.00.
1798 [BB-95] B-7. The perfect obverse die (but still with the "comma" like B-6) coupled with the B-3 reverse die. VF. A very rare coin which Bolender has called, a Rarity-6. $500.00.
1798 [BB-95] B-7a. The last of the Knob 9 variety. Same dies as above, but "UNITED STATES OF" is bifurcated. A nice choice VF, delicate toning. From our Pelletreau sale. Very rare, probably only one or two are known. $500.00.
1798 [BB-96] B-6a. Knob 9. Another of this variety, the obverse is beginning to bulge and the die breaks are very faint. Fine. $260.00.
1798 [BB-96] B-6b. Knob 9. Another very curious coin. Double struck with a double row of denticles, etc. This, however, displays all of the breaks listed as B-6a. About Unc., delicate iridescent toning. Really a very beautiful coin. $675.00.
1798 [BB-101] B-17. Very wide date. The reverse with 10 arrows. Another great rarity of which only two were ever seen by Bolender. This specimen is a beautiful EF coin, with mint lustre and delicate iridescent toning. From Lester Merkin's Sept. 1968 Sale.Better than our Straus coin in 1959. $430.00.
1798 [BB-101] B-17a. Another specimen, but this is from the finished dies with the denticles regular, die flaws removed, and the stars better formed. VG with some planchet adjustment marks and a reverse edge nick. $190.00.
1798 [BB-102] B-20. The reverse break very apparent. Fine, with a few light reverse planchet adjustment marks. $290.00.
1798 [BB-103] B-18. Very wide date. The reverse struck from the unknown perfect dies. VG,with the central portion very weak. Only very few are known of this variety and this may be a "discovery piece" in its perfect state. Rarity-8. $525.00.
1798 [BB-104] B-22. Very wide date. The break from the right part of "E" through clouds has advanced to the shield. VG, with an obverse edge nick. $190.00.
1798 [BB-104] B-22a. As above, but the reverse was struck from perfect dies. The letters are not bifurcated. VG to Fine. $340.00.
1798 [BB-104] B-22b. As above, but the letters are bifurcated. VF, with a small reverse edge dent and a planchet defect at left wing tip. $300.00.
1798 [BB-105] B-23. Very wide date. Spur on 9. The obverse die of B-22, the reverse die of B-19. Nearly VF. $310.00.
1795 [BB-105] B-23a. The letters in "LIBERTY" are bifurcated, and the curl defective. Rarity-4 as indicated by Bolender. VF, iridescent toning. $290.00.
1798 [BB-106] B-19. Very wide date. The vertical break which bisects the coin from "E" to "1" is quite obvious. EF, lustrous and prooflike. Rarity-5. $525.00.
1798 [BB-106] B-19a. As above, but the vertical break is starting to crumble the left side of "E" and there is now a lump below the 1. VG to Fine. $190.00.
1798 [BB-106] B-19b. The break is heavier and the obverse is starting to "mound." The breaks mentioned on the "a" obverse are now heavier. Fine, but some reverse gouges at the juncture of each wing. $200.00.
1798 [BB-107] B-21. Very wide date. EF, with the central portion of the reverse just a trifle weak. Rarity-4. $425.00.
1798 [BB-108] B-13. The obverse is from the B-10 die with the die break from the "L" now nearly touching the edge. The 10 arrow reverse. VF, pale iridescent toning. $360.00.
1798 [BB-109] B-10. Spur on the lower part of the circle of the 9. Medium wide date. The eagle somewhat weak as is always the case with this variety. A nice VF, with some prooflike surface on the reverse. $340.00.
1798 [BB-109] B-10a. As above, but the central portion of the reverse is now weaker obliterating some stars. VG. $200.00.
1798 [BB-110] B-16. Wide Date. We quote from Bolender: "The die broke early and so badly that very few pieces were struck, possibly not over two as no others are known to the author." The break from the edge below the first star across the top of 179 is massive indeed. The spur over the Every clear. The reverse is from the virtually perfect dies of B-11. In most cases, unique or extremely rare die varieties are usually found in Poor to Good condition. This, however, is one case where we are virtually dealing with a gem. Fully EF or better with mint lustre and prooflike surfaces. Delicate golden toning. One of the most exciting coins of this collection! Rarity-8. $625.00.
1798 [BB-111] B-11. Perfect dies. No cracks are in evidence although if the coin if held at an angle, the collector can see the "mound" just starting which will ultimately result in the obvious break. StrictlyVG. Unknown to Haseltine and really rare in its perfect state. $220.00.
1798 [BB-111] B-11a. Still the perfect dies, however, the "mound" is more obvious but still hasn't developed into a break. VF, with a small edge nick and a slight reverse scratch. $230.00.