Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia
Q. David Bowers
1798 Pointed Tail 9; Heraldic Eagle. BB-107.
Arc star pattern on reverse.
(B-21. H-21.)
• OBVERSE 6: See description under 1798 BB-102. Die lump between center of date and bust.
Obverse die used to strike 1798 BB-102, BB-103, and BB-107.
• REVERSE I: Only 10 arrows plus a stick (headless arrow) between the 2nd and 3rd shafts from the right. Five small berries, two top ones closest together. Point of leaf under left lower tip of I in AMERICA. Star distant from eagle's beak, Arc star pattern. Die crack along right wing tip, top of AM to border above E. In the later state of this. reverse (used to coin 1798 BB-108), this reverse die was relapped, and just 10 arrows are visible, but no headless stick. 1798 BB-107 #as struck before 1798 BB-108.
Reverse die used to strike BB-107 (earlier state) and 1798 BB-108 (later state, lightly relapped),
• DIE STATES:
Die State I: Perfect obverse die without lump. Perfect reverse die, not relapped, and without die cracks. May not exist.
Die State II: Obverse die lump between center of date and bust. Reverse not yet relapped, and with headless stick visible among 10 arrows. With die crack along right wing tip, top of AM, to border above E. The usual state.
Our photo shows what appears to be a crack from obverse denticles at 5:00 to the bust and faintly across Miss Liberty's neck. Another faint 'crack, from denticles just left of this other crack through bottom of dates. A short crack appears to' extend left from the lump above date.
• AUCTION POPULATION SURVEY: Very Good: 1, Fine: 8, Very Fine: 8, Extremely Fine: 14, About Uncirculated: 8, Mint State-60 or better: 5. Total: 44. (Average grade: VF-35)
• COLLECTING NOTES: 1798 BB-107 falls in the scarce category among dollars of this date. About 250 to 450 are known. As is the case with any other dollar variety of this date, the potential exists for more to be discovered.
In his 1881 Type-Table, J.W. Haseltine called this variety very scarce. He also considered that the extra "arrow" was created simply by the die being more deeply impressed when striking specimens of BB-107, as compared to BB-108. In 1881 when Haseltine wrote his compendium, indeed even in 1950 when Bolender created his opus, very little was known in numismatic circles about die preparation and use during the era of 1794-1804 dollars.
• NOTABLE SPECIMENS:
Montgomery Specimen, MS-63 .• Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, Montgomery Collection, 1976: 1428, "Brilliant Uncirculated. Nearly if not completely in the Choice category. The fields possess full mint lustre. There is some minor friction on the higher points, due no doubt to contact with other dollars in a mint bag. A tiny planchet mark behind the head is mentioned for accuracy. Superb striking, a wealth of design detail."
New Netherlands Specimen. AU-58 net. (MS-60 with some scratches) •• New Netherlands 57th. Sale, 1963: 1064. "Uncirculated; some light scratches; mostly on 'the reverse."
Hollinbeck-Kagin Specimen, AU-55 .• June 1970: 613. "Near Uncirculated, only barest friction, lovely patina."
Bolender Specimen. AU-55 .• M.H. Bolender Collection, 1952 .• Superior Galleries, Gilhousen Collection, 1973:1238 • Superior Galleries, Neggen Collection Sale, 1976: 658. "Too many planchet adjustment marks in central obverse to qualify as Mint State. Frosty, with beautiful iridescent toning."
Turoff Specimen. AU-55. • Bowers' and Ruddy Galleries, Julius Turoff Collection, 1976: 439. "Borderline Uncirculated. A nearly fully lustrous coin with faint wear: on the highest points. Rather average strike but centered. The planchet has some typical rolling imperfections but is, 'in all; above average for the period." .
Superior Auction ‘80 Specimen. AU-55; Superior Galleries, Auction '80 1982: 232. "Light steel toning on both sides."
1982 ANA Convention Sale Specimen. AU-55 .• Steve Ivy/1982:721. "Lustrous with attractive aqua and sea green pastel coloration. Very well struck except for the usual flatness on the eagle's head and the central shield. Unusually high obverse rim."
• 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: 3 to 6 (URS-3)
Approximate population AU-50 to 58: 25 to 50 (URS-6)
Approximate population VF-20 to EF-45: 175 to 300 (URS-9)
Approximate population G-4 to F-15: 60 to 100 (URS-7)
Approximate population for all grades combined: 250 to 450 (URS-10)
• CONDITION CENSUS: 63-60-60-60-55-55 (multiples)