Q. David Bowers
1803. BB-253.
No specimen is available to photograph
(Status uncertain; may not exist)
Small 3 in date.
5th Edition Bolender says: "Now believed that no such variety exists."
(B-2. H-2.)
• OBVERSE 3: Thin top to 3, top parallel to bust, left tip parallel to O. The 3 is lower than other figures, and the 1 defective at top. Upper stars equidistant from L and Y. First star distant from hair. (Description from Bolender book.)
Obverse die used to strike 1803 BB-253 only.
• REVERSE B: Same die used to coin 1801 BB-212, described earlier, but here with repeated: The point of the leftmost arrowhead is under the left edge of the left serif of N in UNITED. The point of upper part of eagle's beak touches down on a point of a star slightly back from extreme star point. Only 12 arrows show plainly (13th faintly shows, but is difficult to find). First A in AMERICA touches third feather, and is connected by die crack to 4th feather. Leaf points more towards left corner of base of I in AMERICA.
Reverse die used to strike 1801 (intermediate state) BB-212; 1802/1 BB-231 (early state) and BB-232 (early state); 1802 BB-241 (slightly advanced intermediate state); and 1803 BB-253 (if it exists) and BB-254 (slightly advanced intermediate state), and BB-255 (terminal state).
• DIE STATES:
Die State I: Description not available.
• AUCTION POPULATION SURVEY: Good: 1, Very Fine: 1, Extremely Fine: 2, Mint State-50 or better: 1. Total: 5. Average grade: VF-33.
• COLLECTING NOTES: 1803 BB-253 is a major rarity if it exists. There is no illustration of it in the Bolender book, and no one with whom I have been in contact in connection with the present book has reported owning one. The 5th edition (1988) of the Bolender book has the added phrase, "Now believed that no such variety exists." Based upon auction appearances, with some extrapolation, perhaps five to 10 exist, if they can be found. If it exists, 1803 BB-253 is one of the key issues among all dates of Heraldic Eagle reverse dollars. Only at infrequent intervals have specimens been listed in past auctions.
• NOTABLE SPECIMENS:
Hollinbeck-Kagin Specimen. AU-50 .• Hollinbeck-Kagin Sale, June 1970: 641. "Near Unc. with lustre, die break after D in UNITED and left wing tip to edge, 12 arrows show plainly but 13th is faint. Extremely rare." (Not plated)
Pradeau Specimen. EF-45 .• Superior, 1970: 466. "Toned choice EF-AU." The plate of Lot 466 in this sale appears to be a mis-attributed example of 1803 BBc255, the Large 3 variety.
Pradeau Specimen (another). EF-40 .• Superior, Pradeau Collection, 1970: 465. "Toned EF." (Not plated)
Boyd Specimen. VF-20 .• Numismatic Gallery, World's Greatest Collection, F.C.C. Boyd, 1945:121. "VF. An extremely rare variety." (Not plated)
Haines Specimen. G-4. • S. H. and H. Chapman, Ferguson Haines Collection, 1888: 29. Good. (Not plated)
• POPULATION DISTRIBUTION:
Approximate population MS-65 or better: 0 (URS-0)
Approximate population MS-64: 0 (URS-0)
Approximate population MS-63: 0 (URS-0)
Approximate population MS-60 to 62: 0 (URS-0)
Approximate population AU-50 to 58: 1 or 2 (URS-1)
Approximate population VF-20 to EF-45: 3 to 6 (URS-2)
Approximate population G-4 to F-15: 1 or 2 (URS-1)
Approximate population for all grades combined: 5 to 10 (URS-4)
• CONDITION CENSUS: 50-45-40-20-4