Lot 1377
1798 Draped Bust Dollar. Small eagle reverse, 15 stars on obverse. VF-30. Splendid original gray toning throughout, with smooth surfaces. There are two very tiny rim ticks, one near the third obverse star, the other on the reverse between the ME of AMERICA. A glass will note a few minor adjustment marks on the obverse, but they are not deep or readily visible to the naked eye. A curious die variety, apparently made from an obverse which was prepared in 1795-6 and then not used, as that was the only time when 15 stars would have been appropriate. Perhaps the date hadn't been punched in the die, as no evidence of an underlying 5 or 6 is present. Furthermore, this leftover obverse was paired with the leftover small eagle reverse die, while the style had been changed to the new heraldic eagle in early 1798. As such, it has long been believed that this die combination was one of the first group of coins made in 1798, as new dies were being prepared with the new reverse style, and thirteen stars to represent the original thirteen colonies, rather than adding a star every time a state joined the union. Seldom found much better, this coin will satisfy most collectors.
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| Realized $3,335 |
