Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia
Q. David Bowers
1803. BB-254.
Small 3 in date. (B-4. H-4.)
• OBVERSE 4: Thin top to 3, top side long, and ends near bust, very close. 1 firmly touches curl: Last star almost touches bust. Stars 7 and 8 distant from L and Y. On the left stars 4-5 and 5-6 are closer together than are any of the others. On the right, stars 10-11 and 12-13 are wider apart than are any others.
Obverse die used to strike 1803 BB-254 only.
• REVERSE B: Same die used to coin 1801 BB-212, described earlier, repeated under 1803 BB-253 above.
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: Perfect obverse die. Reverse as described above.
• AUCTION POPULATION SURVEY: Good: 4, Very Good: 7, Fine: 9, Very Fine: 18, Extremely Fine: 8, About Uncirculated: 5, Mint State-60 or better: 1. Total: 52. Average grade: VF·24.
• COLLECTING NOTES: I estimate that about 300 to 550 examples are known of 1803 BB-254, placing it squarely in the scarce or rare class. Most specimens are in lower grades, with VF being about par. Examples exist through and including the AU categories. Whether any Mint State coins exist as per stringent present-day grading interpretations is a matter for debate.
The pressman was doing his job well when BB-254 dollars were struck, as these are usually sharp . Higher grade pieces are" sometimes seen with prooflike surfaces. However, "higher grade" in this instance is apt to mean AU, as noted, for no Mint State coins have come to our attention.
• NOTABLE SPECIMENS:
Baldenhofer Specimen. AU-55 .• W. G. Baldenhofer to Stack's, Farish-Baldenhofer Sale, 1955 .• AJ. Ostheimer, 3rd Collection Superior Galleries, ANA Convention Sale, 1975: 1031. "AU-55 or better, mostly iridescent blue toning about the boldly struck borders. Centers partly brilliant and the surfaces prooflike. Minor handling and a few microscopic handling marks, "
Hollinbeck-Kagin Specimen. AU-55. • Hollinbeck-Kagin Sale, June 1970: 642. "Unc. with lovely bluish golden patina, sharp stars, Some slight rubbing (probably from sliding on the velvet in the old coin cabinets)."
NASC Convention Sale Specimen. AU-55. • Kagin's, NASC Convention Sale, 1979: 543. "Choice AU-55, sharp struck, golden bluish lustre. "
May Sale Specimen. AU-55 .• Stack's, 1992: 2196. "AU, near choice. Planchet notch as made at 5:00, marvelous reflective surfaces create exceptional brilliance."
Bebee's. AU-50 .• Numismatist advertisement, 1953. AU. Holmes Specimen. AU-50 •• Stack's, Milton A. Holmes Collection, 1960: 2265, Thin top to 3. 'Just AU, full mint bloom, however struck on a partially porous planchet."
Fairfield Specimen. EF-45 •• Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, Fairfield Collection, 1977: 218. "EF-AU, weakness in clouds on reverse (as struck)."
Hetrich Specimen. EF-45 •• Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, Dr. Hetrich Collection, 1982: 568. "Choice EF-45, prooflike. Sharply struck."
• 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: 10 to 20 (URS-4)
Approximate population VF-20 to EF-45: 170 to 300 (URS-9)
Approximate population G-4 to F-15: 125 to 225 (URS-9)
Approximate population for all grades combined: 300 to 550 (URS-10)
• CONDITION CENSUS: 58-55 (multiples)