Q. David Bowers
Note: Specimens of 1798 BB-82 were struck from a die state intermediate between IV and V (crick later from the center of E through D, etc., now only from E onward; no crack from left base of N in UNITED). Specimens were also struck from Die State V (most usual die state for 1798 BB-82).
Die State VI: Die cracks advanced further from Die State V.Gilhousen (Superior, 1973): 1225 may be this state, there called "Bolender-Le," was described as "shattered and bulged;" ex Baldenhofer and Ostheimer collections.
• AUCTION POPULATION SURVEY: Less than Good: 1, Good: 5, Very Good: 17, Fine: 47, Very Fine: 106, Extremely Fine: 52, About Uncirculated: 8, Mint State-60 or better: 10. Total: 246. Probably by today's standards, only a few (at best) of the 10 coins called Uncirculated in the past would be graded that high today; every one of these 10 citations dates before the 1986 "grading revolution."
• COLLECTING NOTES: The 1797 BB-73 dollar is usually seen with broad borders, a feature particularly noticeable on the obverse, where the denticles are prominently featured, but also to an extent on the reverse. The reverse is usually not as well defined' as the obverse, due to the relatively low relief of the eagle motif. However, the breast feathers and other reverse details are usually excellent in higher grade specimens of earlier die states. Together with BB-71, the BB-73 is one of the two most available varieties Of the year; both BB-73 and BB-71 are much more plentiful than BB-72.
Over 1,000 1797 BB-73 dollars are believed to exist; I estimate the population to be from 1,300 to 2,100. This variety is the most plentiful of the year, beating 1797 BB-71 by a tiny margin. Most examples of BB-73 are in the VF category, although quite a few EF pieces are known, and come on the market frequently gains realistically graded AU are rare-more so than conventional wisdom allows. True Mint State pieces are exceedingly- dare I say "excessively' True. Although BB-71 is slightly scarcer than BB-73 in terms of all grades combined, in AU and Mint State, BB-71 is somewhat more available than BB-73.
• NOTABLE SPECIMENS:
Auction '83 Specimen. MS-63. Stack's, Auction '83, 1983: 720. "Uncirculated and choice. Frosty lustre with extraordinary beautiful russet and iridescent toning. Usually very poorly struck, this specimen exhibits nearly full breast feathers and excellent hair detail."
Newman Specimen. MS-60 • Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society. Brilliant lustre with pale amber and green toning around the obverse periphery. Small burnished area on reverse below ribbon ends. Die State I.
Miles Specimen. MS-60 • R.L. Miles, Jr. Collection .• Stack's May 1974 Sale: 228. "Brilliant Uncirculated.
Stack's Spring Sale Specimen. MS-60+ • Stack's Spring 1978: 716, MS-60+.
Bergen Specimen. MS-60. • Herbert M. Bergen sale, Quality Sales, October 1979: 1346 .• Auction '84, Paramount, 1984: 729. "Uncirculated-60. Lustrous surfaces, an exceptional strike and broad serrated borders. The obverse is frosty and the reverse is semi-prooflike with a few light planchet driftmarks. Light golden tone with some multicolored toning near the border."
Blauvelt Specimen. AU-58 • Bowers and Ruddy, Harold Blauvelt Collection, 1977: 493. "Sharply struck and lustrous borderline Uncirculated."
Harte Specimen. AU-58 • Bowers and Ruddy, Roy Harte Collection, 1977: 2784. "Borderline Uncirculated, small mark at top on the obverse. Quite lustrous."
Hollinbeck-Kagin Specimens. AU-55 • January 1970: 780 "Virtually Uncirculated with only slight friction." • Hollinbeck-Kagin. June 1970: 602. "Uncirculated golden." • Hollinbeck-Kagin, August 1970: 1075. "Virtually Uncirculated, only barest friction, pinpoint nick." • Hollinbeck Kagin, September 1972: 1229. "Nearly Uncirculated, traces of lustre." • Tercentenary Sale, Part II, Kagin's, 1974: 606, Bolender-1b variety; "Nearly Uncirculated with superb golden patina, only slight friction." • These may represent some duplicate listings.
Bullowa Specimen. AU-55. • David M. Bullowa, sold to the following in 1953 .• Norweb Collection, Bowers and Merena, 1988: 3750 was catalogued as AU-55 with bright, brilliant surfaces
• 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: 4 to 8 (URS-3)
Approximate population AU-50 to 58: 25 to 40 (URS-6)
Approximate population VF-20 to EF-45: 900 to 1,600 (URS-11)
Approximate population G-4 to F-15: 350 to 500 (URS-10)
Approximate population for all grades combined: 1,300 to 2,100 (URS-12)
• CONDITION CENSUS: 63-60-60-60-60-55 (multiples)