Q. David Bowers
The striking of 1795 BB-51 is usually weak at the , bottom reverse and top obverse (see details under Die States above); such coins are apt to have stars 7 through 10 weak at the centers, and the word LIBERTY slightly weak. Much rarer (about one in 10 coins) are well-centered pieces with all stars sharp, including full centers to stars 8 and 9 flanking LIBERTY; a "price is paid" for this sharpness, for such coins usually have the eagle's head and breast feathers less sharply detailed than on the off-center coins! Mint-caused planchet adjustment marks, when seen, are apt to be more prominent on the obverse, especially at the upper left; For some unexplained reason, more often than not these are oriented in a roughly northwest to southeast direction on the obverse.
In the course of surveying close to 200 photographs of BB-51, I did not encounter any coins with die deterioration. The reverse die, as noted, went on to later use. What happened to the 1795-dated obverse is unknown. Perhaps like the famous one-hoss shay, it performed admirably and then broke apart all at once. The typically encountered 1795 BB-51 is in the VF range, from VF-20 to 35, Really low-grade coins, such as Fair, Good, Or VG, are few and far between. On the other hand, EF coins appear on the market with frequency. As a group, 1795 BB-51 silver dollars are about 30% to 50% more plentiful than BB-52 dollars, and in grades of AU or better, are much more available them BB-52 coins.
Multiple Mint State BB-51 dollars are known.
Most of these have virtually full prooflike or Proof surfaces, and are sometimes catalogued as, presentation pieces. Probably, these were made upon the occasion of the first striking of the new Draped Bust obverse, Small Eagle reverse, design.
Unquestionably, the average specimen of 1795 BB-51 circulated to a lesser extent than did most of its contemporaries. The reason for this is not known. Quite possibly, many were saved as souvenirs of Gilbert Stuart's Draped Bust design, a novelty at the time, a motif that would not appear elsewhere on coinage until the following year.
• NOTABLE SPECIMENS:
Brand Specimen. MS-66 .• Virgil M. Brand estate (probable attribution) .• B. G. Johnson .• T. James Clarke Collection, New Netherlands 48th Sale, 1956: 614, "Uncirculated gem." • Stack's, September, 1974: 40 • Jascha Heifetz Collection Superior, 1989: 3816. "Drapery is razor-sharp, microscopic signs of handling, particularly two minute border nicks at the lower left reverse. Magnificent blue, pink, lavender and gold toning; both sides somewhat mirrorlike."
Garrett Specimen. "Proof"-65 •• J. Colvin Randall Collection, W. Elliot Woodward, 1885: 12, brilliant Proof .• Garrett Collection, Bowers and Ruddy, 1980: 680. "Choice brilliant Proof, obverse and reverse have full Proof surface including between all the letter spaces and other design details; quality and fabric are just as fine as on any later Proof dollar." • Jimmy Hayes Collection, Stack's, 1985: 73. "Choice Brilliant Proof; presentation piece."
Ostheimer Specimen. MS-65 •• Superior, ANA Convention Sale, 1975: 812 "Iridescent gray toned uniformly on the obverse with uneven tones and partially a lighter pearl tone on the reverse; full original mint lustre, well struck, good centering but there are a few tiny nicks on the rims, the most noticeable at 2:00 on the reverse; neatly full breast feathers on ilie eagle." This sale featured silver: dollars from the Ostheimer Collection.
Superior August Sale Specimen. MS-65 (NGC) .• Superior, August Sale, 1991: 554. "Frosty mint bloom underneath old-time natural color which includes silvery gray and pinkish gold; adjustment marks are light and exclusively to the reverse; outstanding feathers on eagle's chest, each leaf in branches on either side shows full central stem line to the unaided eye; design perfectly aligned on a blemish-free flan, giving the coin a trim, balanced look."
Four Landmark Collections Specimen, MS-64 .• Four Landmark Collections Sale, Bowers and Merena, 1989: 353. "Surely among the finest known; strike needle-sharp on both sides with full feather detail in the eagle's breast and inner portions of its wings; lovely, sharp detail in the palm and 'olive leaves wreathing the eagle; obverse definition stunning; every strand in Liberty's hair is clearly delineated and the folds in her gown are similarly sharp and distinct; more beautifully toned than almost any we have seen-obverse and reverse are a pale iridescent blue and rose, with delicate shades of golden brown and violet scattered about the surface in a most pleasant arrangement; mint lustre creates a pleasing cartwheel effect around the obverse and reverse peripheries."
Stirling Specimen. MS-64. • Frank M. Stirling Collection, Heritage, February 1986: 1330. MS-65 obverse, MS-63 reverse. With "it few trivial adjustment marks."
Alto Specimen. MS-63 .• Stack's, Alto Collection, 1970: 1059, "Brilliant Uncirculated, perfectly centered, nicely struck with characteristic weakness in centers of coin; stars, lettering and denticles are quite sharp; surface is beautiful, prooflike quality, superbly toned with golden and purple iridescence."
Carter Specimen. MS-63 (PCGS) .• Amon Carter, Jr. Collection(Stack's, 1984): 212. "Brilliant Uncirculated and wholly prooflike, some tiny marks in the field, exceptionally well struck, with pale russet-iridescent toning."
Aspen Specimen. MS-63 .• Bowers and Merena, Nelson Page Aspen, M.D. Collection, 1989: 352. "Both surfaces have light champagne toning; obverse field fully and deeply reflective; reverse largely prooflike with some wisps of satiny lustre at the periphery; motifs ate frosty, and most of the design details are sharp including the strands of Miss Liberty's hair, the feathers of the eagle's breast, neck, and wings, and the leaves and berries of the wreath; centering of both sides is fine, with that of the reverse being close to perfection."