Q. David Bowers
Stack's sale of the Amon G. Carter, Jr. Family Collection, January 18-21, 1984, included one of the finest cabinets of early silver dollars ever to cross the auction block. Gems abounded, and notable coins ranged from the first in the list, a magnificent 1794, to the last, the rare 1804. A complete set of 1801-2-3 Proof "restrikes" was included as well.
1794 [BB-1] Silver dollar. Probably the fmest known specimen. Unc. [Description from the Will W. Neil Collection sale repeated here.] $264,000.00.
1795 [BB-13] B-9. Two leaves below each wing. Often called the "Head of 94." Struck from clashed dies which show prominently on the obverse. EF, iridescent toning mixed with pale golden toning. $5,500.00.
1795 [BB-14] B-4. Two leaves below each wing. The last star entirely under the bust. Br, Unc., full frosty mint lustre. Planchet adjustment marks on the head, mostly in the area of the temple. This caused a slight weakness on the lower portion of the eagle. Gray, russet, arid iridescent toning. Certainly in the Condition Census for the variety. $15,400.00.
1795 [BB-18] B-7. Three leaves below each wing. The only 14 berry variety. EF. A splendid coin save for a small dig behind the eye. Golden and iridescent toning about the edges. $3,520.00.
1795 [BB-21] B-1. Two leaves below each wing of the eagle. AD and a "gem." Perfect surfaces and edges, prooflike.and slightly frosty which gives an overall satiny appearance. Lovely peripheral toning. $14,300.00.
1795 [BB-51] B-14. Draped Bust, Small Eagle. The bust far to left. Br. Unc, and wholly prooflike. Some tiny marks in the field but indeed second only to the incredible Garrett specimen. Exceptionally well struck, with pale russet-iridescent toning. $23,100.00.
1795 [BB-51] B-14. Strictly Good, no defect or damage. Pale gray toning. Really an amazing coin. $770.00.
1795 [BB-52] B-15. Draped Bust. The bust is centered and, by far, aesthetically more pleasing. Die break in hair before the fillet. Br. Unc., slightly prooflike, a couple of minuscule reverse rim nicks. Well struck, with very attractive peripheral toning. $24,200.00.
1796 [BB-61] B-4. Small Date, large letters. The only large letter reverse. EF and a perfectly balanced example of this rare date. A very choice specimen, with light russet toning. $6,050.00.
1796 [BB-63] B-2. Small Date, small letters. AD and a beauty with some prooflike surfaces. Lovely pale russet toning with iridescence about the edges. $13,200.00.
1796 [BB-65] B-5. Large Date, small letters. Reverse die break between IC. EF, lightly burnished years ago, now with nice purple and golden toning. $5,225.00.
1797 [BB-71] B-3. Stars 10x6. EF and choice with claims to a higher grade. Frosty mint lustre with purple and iridescent toning. $4,950.00.
1797 [BB-72] B-2. Stars 9x7. Reverse with SMALL LETTERS. AD, frosty lustre. The reverse only shows the weakness but shows no signs of wear. This certainly is one of the finest extant and, by far, surpasses the beautiful coin in our March 1983 sale. $6,600.00. .
1797 [BB-73] B-1a. Stars 9x7, large letters. AU, full frosty mint lustre. An exceptionally attractive coin and certainly far above average for this date. $5,500.00.
1798 [BB-81] B-2. Small Eagle, 15 Stars. The only 1798 dollar with a 15~Star obverse. AD. Full frosty mint bloom and exceptionally well struck. The eagle is weak, as usual, but really rather sharp considering the tough
1795 [BB-51] B-14 reverse die lasted for four years of striking. $6,600.00.
1798 [BB-82] B-1a. Small Eagle, 13 Stars. A strong VF, nearly EF. Russet and iridescent toning. Rarity-5. $3,080.00.
1798 [BB-94] B-3. Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle. Knob 9. EF and choice. Splendid gray and iridescent toning. $2,310.00.
1798 [BB-105] B-23a. Heraldic Eagle. Very wide date. AU, frosty mint lustre, and nicely struck. The coin has a cameo effect with its peripheral toning. Rarity-4 and undoubtedly in the Condition Census. $4,125.00.
1799/8 [BB-142] B-1. The 13-Star reverse. Die cracks at T and Rl on the reverse. Br. Unc. and choice. A prooflike specimen with exquisite golden and pale iridescent toning. A splendid example of this overdate. $8,250.00.
1799 [BB-158] B-16a. Intermediate die state. Lacks second reverse crack at OF and crack to 5th and 6th stars. Choice Br. Unc., blazing lustre. Virtually as struck. $18,700.00.
1799 [BB-159] B-23b. Stars 8x5. An exceedingly rare type (R-5), especially so in this condition. Br. Unc., frosty and satiny, with iridescent and russet toning. The toning missing from a few very high points. The terminal state of the die, with an arc-like crack from star one across the neck to below star 13, resulting in a massive bulging of the die. Without question, the finest known of this die state. $9,350.00.
1800 [BB-187] B-16. Close Date. Die dot adjacent to the top curl. Choice EF, with lustrous surfaces. Iridescent toning about the edges. $2,640.00.
1800 [BB-187] B-16a. Close Date. Most letters are bifurcated. The die breaks are advanced, with multiple areas of swelling. AU, blue and iridescent toning. $6,050.00.
1800 [BB-190] B-10a. Wide Date. Br. Unc. Frosty and satiny, with considerable prooflike surface, mostly on the reverse. A simply splendid coin from any point of view. Pale golden russet and iridescent. $7,150.00.
1800 [BB-191] B-11. The obverse of B-10 with the very wide date. The reverse is the popular AMERICAI variety. However, this reverse coupled with the B-10 obverse is, as Bolender states, "Excessively Rare." Br. Unc., with just a tiny rub or two on the high points. Full mint lustre with delicate peripheral toning. Rarity-7 and to the best ofthis cataloguer'S recollection, the first one we've sold since the W. Earl Spies Sale (Fine to VF), December 1974. This is undoubtedly the finest known. $9,900.00.
1800 [BB-195] B-15. 10 arrows. Actually 10 perfect arrows and 3 arrowheads only. AU, just a whisper from full Mint State. Fully lustrous and nicely struck. A tiny "concealed" dig just below the lower ribbon. $7,700.00.
1801 [BB-214] B-4. Spur on D of UNITED. Gem Br. Unc., wholly prooflike. At first glance one might think they were looking at the restrike because of the prooflike surface, strike, and edges. There is a circular area in the center of the obverse which is frosty, otherwise this cataloguer would have no qualms about calling it a specimen striking. The coin is so beautiful, with its russet and iridescent toning, that it virtually defies description. We cannot see how a better silver dollar of this date could exist. $20,900.00.
1801 B-5. "Restrike." Br. Proof. The obverse with an arclike crack from the B through the hair as well as the usual cracks through the bottom of the date and the first eight stars. The reverse with the mirror of that crack. Delicate pale gray and golden russet toning. Obverse: Same as adopted design but the L's have a curved top. Tip of top curl missing. Reverse: Same as used with the Class I 1804 Dollar. Ex Will W. Neil Collection, B. Max Mehl,June 17, 1947, Lot 28. $55,000.00.
1802/1 [BB-232] B-4. The close overdate. The 1 firmly touches the curl. Br. Unc., full blazing lustre with splendid satiny surfaces. Exquisite golden russet toning. This certainly must be one of the finest extant. $7,700.00.
1802 [BB-241] B-6. Close Normal Date. Wide space between 8 and O. Br. Unc. and a pristine example. A small "kegmark" on the chin but really "as struck." Full blazing mint lustre with satiny iridescence. Perfectly struck where all of the stars on the obverse and virtually all on the reverse have their radial lines. A sensational coin. $33,000.00.