Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia
Q. David Bowers
1795 Flowing Hair. BB-24.
Obv: Portrait II (Head of '95)
Rev: Eagle I, Wreath I (2 leaves)
(B-13. H-13.)
• OBVERSE 4: Flowing hair in six curls, 3rd and 4th close together; lowest curl barely misses a point of first star, but continues on to touch and slightly pass a second point of same star. The second curl from bottom turns downward pointing to space between two points of second star. Wide date, 79 closest. E in LIBERTY punched over an earlier erroneous R: The Y in LIBERTY is higher than the adjacent T. Foot of R in LIBERTY shortened from a broken punch.
Obverse die used to strike 1795 BB-24 (early state) and BB-25 (early and late states).
• REVERSE G: See description under BB-20.
Two leaves under each wing.
Reverse die used to strike 1795 BB-20, BB-21, and BB-24.
• DIE STATES:
Die State I: Perfect dies.
• AUCTION POPULATION SURVEY: Fine: 4, Very Fine: 6, Extremely Fine: 7, About Uncirculated: 2, Mint State-60 or better: 4. Total: 23.
• COLLECTING NOTES: Bolender wrote this in 1950: "The author's example is probably the Haseltine specimen. Two others are known to the author, and no others have been heard of in 40 years. Rarity 7." Haseltine in 1881 considered his coin to be unique.
I believe that somewhere between 100 and 150 exist, most of which are in relatively high grades for a 1795 issue. In this regard, BB-24 is in sharp contrast to BB-26, the latter of which is usually seen in Fine. Most 1795 BB-24 dollars are in better grades such as VF or EF, or even finer.
The problem of evaluating the rarity of early dollars today in the early 1990s is akin to what large cent researchers were faced with 75 to 100 years ago, before popular references became generally available. Information in print is often contradictory. Common varieties are called rare, and rare varieties are sometimes sold for "common prices."Although the Bolender book is excellent, it has not served as a springboard for research in the silver dollar series to the same extent that Dr. William H. Sheldon's 1949 text, Early American Cents, did for large cents 1793-1814. Nor is there a very wide circle of friends of the early silver dollar, while, by contrast, there are at least a couple thousand or more numismatists who seek to acquire early (1793-1814) large cents by die varieties. In doing research for this book, one expert ventured the opinion that about 10 to 15 specimens of 1795 BB-24 existed, while another suggested that 80 to 100 was the correct range. As noted., Bolender knew of only three coins!
All things considered, the 1795 BB-24 dollar is an excellent variety for further research. Why are most specimens in higher grades? How many are known to exist?
• NOTABLE SPECIMENS:
Atwater Specimen. MS-60+ •• Atwater Collection, B. Max Mehl, 1946: 187. "Brilliant semi-proof just about equal to a brilliant Proof." $152.50. Sold to the following .• Louis G. Stirling, who sold it to the following. • Frank M. Stirling Collection, Heritage, Mid-Winter ANA Convention Sale, 1986: 1328. "The surfaces, though lightly hairlined, are vibrantly lustrous and toned a pleasing steel, violet gray, and rustic orange. A few adjustment marks across Liberty's profile." • Four Landmark Collections. Bowers and Merena, 1989: 1942. "MS-60 to 63, prooflike, obverse and reverse surfaces brilliant and prooflike; attractive deep silver-gray toning with faint iridescent purple, blue and golden highlights; strike exceptionally sharp everywhere save on the first and second stars; reverse sharp save for the center of the eagle's breast, which was flatly struck; leaves on reverse show full interior veining and letters of legend sharply outlined; obverse pears numerous horizontal adjustment marks through Liberty's jaw line and hair with traces of other adjustment marks protruding from the rims at the top and lower left; small hidden scratch below final star; mostly well centers; microscopic hairlines on obverse." • JaschaHeifetz Collection, Superior, 1989: 2381. "MS-60+. Prooflike throughout with magnificent toning about the periphery." • Auction '90. Rarcoa, 1990: 760.
"Choice Brilliant Uncirculated." • The May Sale, Superior, 1991: 948, "MS-60+, prooflike throughout with magnificent toning about the periphery."
The BaldenhoferSpecimen, AU-50 .• W.G. Baldenhofer Collection. ; AJ. Ostheimer, 3rd Collection .• ANA Convention Sale Superior, 1975: 810. "AU-50 or better, brilliant obverse with lustrous toned reverse; obverse shows many microscopic handling marks, some minor rubbing and a crescent-like scratch on Liberty's jaw; reverse with many adjustment marks."