1799 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. BB-156, B-7a. Rarity-4. AU-58 (PCGS).
Really a lovely example of both the type and issue, this BB-156 dollar is peripherally toned in vivid steel-blue iridescence. The centers are lighter silver-gray and approach brilliance. Exceptionally smooth in hand, there are no sizeable marks. The strike is expertly centered and about as full as one could realistically expect for an early U.S. Mint silver dollar. Difficult to improve upon in terms of visual appeal. BB Die State III. Bowers-Borckardt 156 is a scarcer, more conditionally challenging die marriage of the 1799 silver dollar, with Q. David Bowers accounting for only 275 to 500 survivors in the 2013 book The Encyclopedia of United States Silver Dollars: 1794-1804. The author also states, "VF and EF coins are seen with frequency, but higher grades are virtually non-existent." The Bowers listing of notable specimens for this variety includes only one Mint State coin, three AU-58s, and then a handful of lower grade pieces through EF-45. The present example is not included on that list, but its PCGS-certified grade qualifies it as a Condition Census candidate. A noteworthy find for the specialist, and sure to see spirited bidding at auction.
PCGS# 6878. NGC ID: 24X7.