Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia
Q. David Bowers
• POPULATION DISTRIBUTION:
Approximate population MS-65 or better: 0 (URS-0)
Approximate population MS-64: 0 (URS-0)
Approximate population MS-63: 1 or 2 (URS-1)
Approximate population MS-60 to 62: 1 or 2 (URS-1)
Approximate population AU-50 to 58: 3 to 6 (URS-3)
Approximate population VF-20 to EF-45: 140 to 240 (URS-9)
Approximate population G-4 to F-15: 150 to 250 (URS-9)
Approximate population for all grades combined:300 to 500 (URS-10)
• CONDITION CENSUS: 63-60-55-50-50-45 (multiples)
1795 Flowing Hair. BB-14.
"Hidden Star Obverse."
Obv: Portrait I (Head of '94)
Rev: Eagle I, Wreath I (2 leaves)
Exists with silver plug at center
Exists overstruck on a 1794 dollar (B-4. H-4.)
• OBVERSE 2: Star 15 is "hidden" entirely under the bust, where Miss Liberty cannot "see" even a part of it; the only 1795 obverse with this characteristic. Flowing hair in six curls; lowest curl ends faintly above two points of first star, and close to one point. Close date, figures 9 and 5 closest, and the distance between the 1 and 7 about the same as between the first star and figure 1. The 9 and 5 are lightly repunched. Two center dots; the larger is higher, slightly farther to the right, and closest below ear. Star closer to date than in any other variety, about 1.5 mm.
Obverse die used to strike 1795 BB-14 only.
• REVERSE C: See description under BB.13. Reverse die used to strike 1795 BB-13 and BB-14.
• DIE STATES:
Die State I: Perfect dies. Early impressions may have a small lump under the chin and/or die flaws near the rim opposite stars 10 and II.
AUCTION POPULATION SURVEY: Good: 3, Very Good: 10, Fine: 15, Very Fine: 27, Extremely Fine: 12, About Uncirculated: 5, Mint State-fit) or better: 3. Total: 75 .
• COLLECTING NOTES: 1795 BB-14 is one of the more readily available issues of the year. An estimated 350 to 550 exist in all grades combined. The specialist will have no trouble acquiring a specimen in just about any grade up to VF. At the EF level, BB- 14 becomes somewhat elusive, but a specimen in this grade can usually be acquired easily with less than a year's search. AU coins are rare, and Mint State examples are very rare.
The rims on this issue are higher than most other 1795 dollars, giving them a somewhat more "modern" appearance than the typical variety of this year. Planchet adjustment marks are not often seen on BB-14. A few pieces I have seen have had black carbon streaks, the result of improper alloy mixing. Probably a batch of 1795 BB-14 dollars was made from an impure alloy melt.
The only known 1795 dollar overstruck on a previously coined 1794 is of the BB-14 variety and is described at length below. This suggests that 1795 BB-14 was probably included among the first dollars minted in 1795. As such it helps verify the varieties listed in Striking Period 1 were the first struck.
• NOTABLE SPECIMENS:
Parmelee Specimen. MS-63 .• Parmelee: 702 (U.S. Coin Co., June 1890), now untraced, appears from the plate to have been a gem. October Sale Specimen. MS-62 (NGC) .• Superior, October Sale, 1990: 3713. "Premium Quality. Glorious lustre, with a whisper of antique toning. Surfaces are pristine."
Carter Specimen. MS-61 (PCGS) •• Amon Carter,Jr. Collection Stack's, 1984: 209, "Brilliant Uncirculated, full frosty mint lustre, planchet adjustment marks on the head-mostly in area of temple, slight weakness on the lower portion of the eagle, gray russet and iridescent toning." • Dillard Collection, Heritage, 1990: 969, "AU-58." Now MS-61 (PCGS)
Jenks Specimen. MS-60+ .• John Story Jenks Collection, Chapman, 1921. • Superior, Shore Collection, 1988: 2176. "A sharp strike on a large planchet with nearly full hair detail on Liberty and partial detail on eagle's breast. Surfaces are fully lustrous with blue and green-gold toning. Some trivial adjustment marks on the obverse rim from 12:00 to 1:00."
Mills Specimen. MS-60. • The Mills Collection coin (Chapman brothers, April 1904) was catalogued as Uncirculated.
San Diego Sale Specimen. AU-53. • Mid-American, San Diego Sale, 1989: 713, centers are rich gray, some iridescence at edges, considerable luster on surfaces, centers not fully brought up, slight amount of even, gentle wear.
Garrett Specimen. AU-50.• Bowers and Ruddy, 1980: 678. "AU-50, exquisite strike, full borders, usual adjustment marks hardly noticeable, details outstanding, most of original mint frost evident except in certain areas of field and highest parts of design where frost has disappeared, two very small edge marks on obverse rim between sixth and seventh stars, lightly toned, light gray with golden hues around stars and letters of LIBERTY."
"Omnium Gatherum" Specimen. AU-50. • "Omnium Gatherum" Sale, Lester Merkin, 1968: 359, "Borderline Uncirculated. Evidently never in circulation, as fields are full of frost; dull on raised surfaces and with the faintest hint of rubbing on one or two curls only. Faint reverse adjustment marks. Mediocre strike, light bagmarks, faint signs of old cleaning, small stain in reverse wreath."
Terrell Specimen. AU-50.• Bowers and Ruddy, Terrell Collection, 1973: "Lustrous, well-struck, free of weaknesses."