Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia

1798 Knob 9; Heraldic Eagle. BB-96.

Line star pattern on reverse.
Large Letters reverse, 5 lines in each shield element.

(B-6. H-6.)
• OBVERSE 4: Knob 9. 13 stars. See description under 1798 BB-95.

Obverse die used to strike 1798 BB-95 (early state only) and BB-96 (early state and late state).

• REVERSE F: Large Letters reverse from 1796 type font (larger interior space in A, open S, etc.); 5 lines in each vertical shield element. This was one of the first Heraldic Eagle reverse dies cut in early 1798. Ray of star is near center of space between two parts of eagle's beak, but does not touch; star ray points to between Band U. Line star pattern. Leaf points to center of I in AMERICA. Only 10 perfect arrows, and two sticks (one stick is located between the 2nd and 3rd arrow shaft from the left and the other is between the 2nd and 3rd from the right). Often found with very heavy denticles and weakness of strike at the centers. The base of the first A in AMERICA is joined solid. This is an early state of the reverse die used to coin 1798 BB-101 (when BB-101 was coined, the two sticks were no longer present). The two rightmost arrow shafts on this die state each have two heads (and thus count as four arrows), the
third arrow shaft from the right is ghostlike (this style was used on other dies as well). This is the die state known to and described by Bolender.

Once relapped, the reverse die (as Die State V, described below) was used to coin some specimens of 1798 BB-101. If Die States VI and VII exist (I have not seen them), then the reverse was remated with the obverse of BB-96 and used to coin additional pieces.

Reverse die used to strike 1798 BB-96 (early and late states), BB-101 (latest state).

• DIE STATES:
Die State I: With perfect obverse and reverse dies, without cracks or relapping. May not exist.

Die State II: With perfect obverse and reverse dies without cracks, but with obverse die relapped; highest wave of hair incomplete, and stars spidery, as a result. Somewhat scarce, this die state seems to constitute about 20% to 30% of the population of BB-96.

Die State III: With obverse die crack from field below hair ribbon through star 1 toward 1 of date, but is interrupted with another crack below lowest curl going from crack to border; crack continues under 1, through bottom of 7, middle of 9. Reverse die still with 10 arrows and two sticks (not yet relapped). This is the most plentiful die state of BB-96.

Die State IV: As III, but crack develops on reverse at denticle over I of AMERICA. Enlarges slightly, and develops a spur extending toward R (there are several minor progressive variations of this crack under Die State IV). Reverse die not yet relapped.

Die State V: Bolender-6b. With obverse die crack now from hair ribbon through star 1 toward 1 of date, but is interrupted with another crack below lowest curl going from crack to border; crack continues under 1, through bottom of 7, middle of 9, to center of 8; advanced state of preceding. Additional hairline crack goes upward from border to bottom curl. Reverse die relapped; now with 10 arrows, but with two sticks ground away; 3rd shaft from left is discontinuous. Crack over I, with spur toward R, still visible. Perhaps 15% to 20% of BB-96 are of this die state. This die state was also used to coin 1798 BB-101.

Die State VI: Bolender-6a. Obverse crack heavier and more extended; continues from ribbon into hair curls. A crack has developed on the reverse through the arrows and N of UNITED. Constitutes a minor percentage of BB-96. Not seen by the author.

• AUCTION POPULATION SURVEY: Very Good: 6, Fine: 10, Very Fine: 33, Extremely Fine: 19, About Uncirculated: 6, Mint State-60 or better: 4. Total: 78. (Average grade: VF-27)

• COLLECTING NOTES: 1798 BB-96 is of medium scarcity within the context of varieties of this date, with an estimated population of 500 to 800 pieces. As is true of most other dollars of this era, the VF category is the most populous. EF examples are in the distinct minority, and AU coins are rarer yet. Mint State records are for coins sold prior to the grading interpretation renaissance in 1986.

• NOTABLE SPECIMENS:

Alto Specimen. MS-63. ' Stack's, Alto Collection, 1970: 1064. "Brilliant Uncirculated, full mint lustre. Attractively toned with light golden and blue iridescence. The surfaces are virtually flawless."

Robison Specimen. MS-60.• Stack's, Ellis H. Robison Collection, 1982: 1867. Brilliant Uncirculated, light golden iridescence. Full mint lustre. Struck slightly off-center at 1:00. Clear, sharp impression, wire edge on lower portion of coin.

Forrest Specimen. MS-60.• Stack's, S.S. Forrest, Jr. Collection, 1972: 981. "Deep serrated borders on most of the coin. Brilliant Uncirculated. Lustrous mint bloom. Deep blue-purple iridescence further enhances the beauty of this specimen."

Willasch Specimen. AU-55. • Superior, H. Roland Willasch Collection, 1990: 478. "Choice for the grade with hints of lustre in the fields graced with delicate golden toning."

Adams Specimen. AU-50 PCGS • Superior, Adams Collection, 1992: 2110. "Medium gray color on obverse and reverse, evenly balanced and choice. Little evidence of lustre except very close to lettering and devices. Well struck except very center of horizontal shield lines. Struck from lapped dies, but the recutting on star five in still visible."

Ebsen Specimen. AU-50. • Superior, Buddy Ebsen Collection, 1987: 1894. "Very boldly struck and well centered on a perfect, problem-free planchet. The impression is quite strong with excellent center detail throughout Liberty. The peripheries are also bold with nice strong denticle definition, particularly on the obverse. The lustrous surfaces are overlaid with grayish violet and golden sunset toning on the obverse, while the reverse is mostly brilliant with some silvery gray overtones."

DeCoppet Specimen. AU-50. • James Kelly, Andre DeCoppet Collection, 1955. "Practically Uncirculated, stars and all details sharply struck."

First National Bank of Denver Specimen. AU-50. • Bowers and Merena, First National Bank of Denver Collection, 1987: 2221. "A very well struck specimen exhibits needle-sharp detail even under magnification. Light gray and golden toning." • Lloyd M. Higgins, M.D. Collection, Bowers and Merena, 1988: 2306.

Gross Specimen. AU-50. • Yolanda Gross Collection. Purchased from Heritage, Douglas Winter, in March 1984.

Spies Specimen. AU-50. Double Struck .• Stack's, W. Earl Spies Collection, 1974: 49. "Double struck with a double row of denticles, etc. Displays all of the cracks listed as Bolender- 6a. AU, delicate iridescent toning."

• POPULATION DISTRIBUTION:

Approximate population MS-65 or better: 0 (URS-0)
Approximate population MS-64: 0 (URS-0)
Approximate population MS-63: 1 (URS-1)
Approximate population MS-60 to 62: 2 to 4 (URS-2)
Approximate population AU-50 to 58: 6 to 12 (URS4)
Approximate population VF-20 to EF-45: 400 to 650 (URS-10)
Approximate population G-4 to F-15: 100 to 150 (URS-8)
Approximate population for all grades combined: 500 to 800 (URS-10)

• CONDITION CENSUS: 63-60-60-55-50 (multiples)