1798 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. Heraldic Eagle. BB-102, B-20. Rarity-5. Pointed 9, Wide Date. AU-55 (PCGS). CAC.
An exciting opportunity for advanced early dollar enthusiasts, this is a newcomer to the Condition Census for the scarce and conditionally challenging BB-102 attribution. This coin has an incredible "look" for a Bust dollar, the strike ideally centered with razor sharp to full detail throughout the design. Very little rub is noted, just at a few isolated high points, and barely enough to argue in favor of a Choice AU as opposed to a Mint State grade. Appreciable luster remains, as well, the surfaces revealing a soft satin texture. The obverse is moderately toned with mottled copper-russet overtones on warm golden-olive. More lightly toned, the reverse exhibits dominant antique silver tinting with a splash of pale copper-apricot iridescence through the center. This smooth piece was obviously well cared for by earlier generations of collectors. BB Die State IV. Writing in the 2013 edition of his Encyclopedia of United States Silver Dollars: 1794-1804, Q. David Bowers sums up the challenges that the BB-102 pairing presents for numismatists: "BB-102 is in the medium range of scarcity among silver dollars of 1798. Probably somewhere around 75 to 125 are known. The variety is one of only a few with an average grade below the VF level. A review of auction appearances demonstrates that here is a variety for which EF and AU are remarkable grades." Indeed, the CC#1 coin is the Hesselgesser specimen in PCGS AU-58, followed by a small number of certified AU-55 coins that are tied for CC#2. The present example is a newcomer to the second tier. It has only recently been certified by PCGS (and verified by CAC), having previously been placed in an uncertified type set back in the 1980s or early 1990s. This is its first confirmed auction appearance, and certainly it first in the modern numismatic market.
PCGS# 40019.

Estimate: $15000