Rare BB-154 Variety of the 1799 Bust Dollar
Condition Census PCGS AU-55 Grade
1799 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. BB-154, B-18. Rarity-5. AU-55 (PCGS).
Offered is one of the finest survivors from this elusive and challenging die pairing of the 1799-dated silver dollar issue. It is a handsome piece with rich, smoky pewter gray patina on the obverse that gives way to a blush of iridescent charcoal-blue centered on star 1. The reverse is lighter, although also nicely toned, with glints of power blue to dominant golden-gray iridescence. The strike is nicely centered and well executed, the borders fully denticulated and framing design elements that are generally bold to sharp in detail. Only in the centers do we see mentionable softness, affecting the hair curls below Liberty's ear and, on the reverse, the eagle's head, breast, the surrounding stars and the center of the ribbon. Much luster remains in a satiny texture that is brightest when observed with the aid of direct lighting. BB Die State III. After BB-151, the BB-154 is the second rarest die variety of the 1799-dated Draped Bust dollar issue. Writing in the 2013 reference The Encyclopedia of United States Silver Dollars: 1794, 1804, our own Q. David Bowers asserts that only 60 to 100 examples are extant in all grades. The elusiveness of survivors can probably be laid almost entirely at the feet of the early and advanced break up of the reverse die, which is unknown in any other pairing. Most examples display a sharp break from the border between the letters ED in UNITED that extends into the top of the shield, as well as several other lengthy cracks around the periphery, all of which are plainly evident here. This coin was inexplicably overlooked in the Winter 2023 revision to Stephen J. Herrman's AMBPR for early silver dollars, but based on the listing therein it is tied for CC#3 after an MS-63 and a pair of AU-58 coins. It is the final example in the list of Notable Specimens in the aforementioned Bowers reference, although its provenance is incorrectly combined with that of another ex Hesselgesser coin, that one in PCGS/CAC AU-55 that appeared as lot 5077 in Ira & Larry Goldberg's September 2011 Pre-Long Beach Auction. Whether you are assembling a high grade type set or advanced early dollar collection, this important 1799 BB-154 is worthy of serious consideration.
PCGS# 40046. NGC ID: 24X7.
Ex Hesselgesser Collection; Ira & Larry Goldberg's Pre-Long Beach Auction of May-June 2011, lot 895.