Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia
Q. David Bowers
1800. BB-192.
AMERICAI Reverse
(B-19. (H-19.)
• OBVERSE 8: Point of star 1 is closer to hair than point of star 7 is to L. Right stars close to Y and bust. The last 0 in date is just as close to bust as is star 13. The 1 almost touches curl. Vertical die flaw below right side of first star near border. On the left, stars 1-2 and 5-6 are closer together than are other stars. On the right, stars 11-12 are farther apart than are other stars.
Obverse die used to strike BB-192 only.
• REVERSE G: See description under BB-191.
The AMERICAI variety.
Reverse die used to strike BB-191 (earlier use) and BB-192 (later use).
• DIE STATES:
Die State I: Perfect dies without clash marks. May not exist. Die State II: Clash marks on obverse at date (from clouds on reverse), at E in LIBERTY (from eagle's tail), and Y through star 11 (MERIC incuse from reverse). Small die flaw or crack below star 1. This is the die state usually seen.
Die State III: Bolender-19a. Dies as BB-192, Die State II, but now with die crack along top of three upper left stars on obverse continuing along top of LIBE. Obverse clash marks seen on Die State II are now mostly gone (from light relapping?), but a new group of clash marks, slightly different in configuration, is seen in and around the date, and extending along the border to star 3.
Die State IV: Obverse as preceding. Reverse with additional die crack along border above U, left top of N, down through I (eventually to left ribbon end in a slightly later state). Die clash marks around date and at sides. Rare.
• AUCTION POPULATION SURVEY: Good: 3, Very Good: 9, Fine: 25, Very Fine: 39, Extremely Fine: 16, About Uncirculated: 6, Mint State-60 or better: 10. Total: 108. Average grade: VF-25.
• COLLECTING NOTES: 1800 BB-192 is one of the most populous varieties of the year. An estimated 600 to 1,100 exist. The BB-192 is by far the commoner of the two varieties with AMERICAI reverse (the other being BB-191). Examples are available in all basic grade ranges, with most being in the VF category.
• NOTABLE SPECIMENS:
Paramount Auction '85 Specimen. MS-64 .• Paramount, 1985: 1264. "Gem Unc. (65/65). A truly magnificent early bust dollar with a fully prooflike obverse, broad even dentilation, an incredibly sharp impression and superb natural medium gray and golden brown toning."
Stack's Auction '85 Specimen. MS-63 .. Stack's, 1985: 1753. "Brilliant Unc., and a choice specimen with russet and iridescent toning. A curious light spot in the field behind the head where it didn't tone." • Auction '86, Stack's: 294. (Previous description repeated.)
Rarcoa Auction '86 Specimen. MS-63 .• Rarcoa, 1986: 734, Bolender-19a. "Choice Unc., well struck, with nice lustre and attractive orange and lavender toning."
Four Landmark Collections Specimen. MS-62 .• Bowers and Merena, 1989: 1978. "MS-60 to 63. Attractive pale silver gray and golden-brown toning on both sides. The mint lustre is nearly complete on both sides, and creates a pleasing cartwheel effect on the obverse and reverse. The reverse mint lustre is outstanding around the peripheries."
Ivy Specimen. MS-60 .. Steve Ivy Sale, December 1976: 759 .• Kagin's, ANA Convention Sale, 1977: 1772. "Die flaw near border between first star and date. Brilliant frosty Unc., mediocre strike (stars sharp, centers less so); dipped long ago, beginning to acquire faint golden (obverse) and honey color (reverse) peripheral tone."
Shore Specimen. AU-58+ • Superior, A. Bernard Shore Collection, 1988: 2220. "About MS-60. Very early die state with conspicuous raised die lines below 180 in the date which extend to below the curls. An exceptional strike with centers showing every fine detail and full radial line sin stars. The surfaces are nearly completely prooflike and covered by irregular toning. Some marks are noted on the obverse with most obvious being a pinprick below TY in LIBERTY."
DeCoppet Specimen. AU-55. James Kelly, Andre DeCoppet Collection, 1955. "A choice practically Unc, specimen."
Wolfson Specimen. AU-55 .• Stack's, Samuel A. Wolfson Collection, 1963: 1386.'Just a shade from Unc., delicately toned, full mint lustre."
Hollinbeck-Kagin Specimen. AU,55 •• Hollinbeck-Kagin Sale, August 1970: 1096. "Virtually Unc., only barest friction, lovely bluish golden."
• POPULATION DISTRIBUTION:
Approximate population MS-65 or better: 0 (URS-0)
Approximate population MS-64: 1 or 2 (URS-1)
Approximate population MS-63: 2 to 4 (URS-2)
Approximate population MS-60 to 62: 10 to 20 (URS-5)
Approximate population AU-50 to 58: 25 to 50 (URS-6)
Approximate population VF-20 to EF-45: 400 to 725 (URS-10)
Approximate population G-4 to F-15: 175 to 300 (URS-9)
Approximate population for all grades combined: 600 to 1,100 (URS-11)
• CONDITION CENSUS: 64,63,63,60 (multiples)