1798
Silver Dollar - 1803 Silver Dollar: Set of Two Silver Dollars
The
numismatic adventure can be enriched by acquiring groups of
coins in meaningful combinations. Sets of coins can run from
two pieces to many. In the areas of rare date and early silver
and gold coins we have established certain sets of special
interest. They include the first and last of an issue, type
sets, design sets, year sets, and those that are joined by
historical events such as the Civil War. The coins of each
set are specially selected for you and your collecting needs.
We are specialists in this
area and will expertly and confidentially help you assemble
a set similar to the one you see below, which is made up of
pieces from the US Rare Coin Investments’ archives.
We will cherry pick through millions of dollars of rare coins
selecting only the finest quality pieces for your collection.
A Set of First and
Last Draped Bust, Large Eagle Silver Dollars, 1798 and 1803
The Draped Bust, Large or
Heraldic Eagle silver dollar motif was designed by Robert
Scot. He used the obverse design from the earlier Draped
Bust, Small Eagle reverse of 1795 to 1798. The major design
change was to the coin’s reverse. Scot replaced the
skinny, some said scrawny and ugly, Small eagle with a more
traditional heraldic version. Taken from the Great Seal
of the United States, the design shows an eagle whose head
is facing left. On its breast is a Union shield. Its wings
are outstretched. In its talons it holds the symbols of
war and peace, arrows and an olive branch. Across the eagle’s
neck, over its right wing and under its left, is a banner
with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. A group of stars are above
the eagle, and an arc of clouds is above the stars.
The whole is surrounded
by the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, interrupted by the
wing tips. While it is not certain why, Scot mixed up the
arrows and olive branch creating a very martial heraldry,
maybe for political reasons. The United States was engaged
with France in an undeclared naval war. Perhaps this symbolism
was being used to make a statement to France and others
about the sovereignty of the United States. Whatever his
reason, the motif remained unchanged and was repeated on
the other heraldic eagle coins he designed for different
denominations.
1798
Silver Dollar - The 1798 silver dollar
had a number of varieties including Knob 9 and Pointed
9, 4 and 5 vertical lines in the shield, a Close Date
and a Wide Date, 10 Arrows, and 4 Berries.
The pictured coin is an example of
the Pointed 9, Wide Date variety. It is a mixture
of tan, blue, lilac, gun-metal gray, and green. The
colors attest to the coin’s originality. It
is well struck for the issue with strong detail on
the centers of the stars and Liberty’s hair.
Dentils are present on both sides, especially so on
the reverse where they are strong. The motto is fully
legible. The coin is identified as the BB-105 variety.
The BB-105 used the same obverse die
as the BB-104. It has a Pointed Tail 9. The wide date
is firmly into the bust. Star 7 points directly at
the lower left end of the L in LIBERTY. The reverse
die has several flaws in STATES, one between the S
and T, one between the T and E, and another after
the E. There are 5 small berries. The two at the top
are closest together. A leaf point is under the left
part of the I in AMERICA. The stars are in an arc
pattern. Star 12 is distant from the eagle’s
beak, and one of its rays points to the center of
the B in PLURIBUS. There are 13 arrows.
Approximate cost:
G $900; VF $2,750; AU50 $8,000; MS60 $30,000
1803
Silver Dollar - Although there was
a proof 1804 Draped Bust silver dollar, it is an incredibly
famous rarity that was made much later in the century
first as a presentation piece and then for various
other reasons. In all fourteen pieces are known. For
all practical purposes, the 1803 dollar is the last
of the type. It came with two varieties, Small and
Large 3s. While the Small 3s are more plentiful, there
are also more varieties of them.
The illustrated coin is an example
of a Small 3 variety. The obverse has an almost cameo
appearance. The bust of Liberty is mainly white and
the grey fields darken towards the periphery. On the
reverse the devices are also whiter than the fields
although dark grey is seen on the eagle’s left
wing, tail feathers, and shield. For the grade, the
surfaces are clean with even wear seen on the high
points of the design.
The coin is in an OGH (old green holder)
and looks as if it could grade a few point higher
than indicated. It is identified as a BB-254. The
BB-254 variety has a thin top to the 3 of the date.
It is almost touching the bust. The tip of the 1 touches
Liberty’s curl. Star13 almost touches the drapery.
Stars 7 and 8 are far from the L and Y respectively.
Stars 4-5 and 5-6 are close to each other. Stars 10-11
and 12-13 are further apart than the others.
On the reverse the point of the left
most arrow is under the left side of the N in UNITED.
Of the 13 arrows in the eagle’s talon, only
12 show plainly. The upper part of the eagle’s
beak touches a point of Star 12 slightly back from
its very end. The first A in America touches Feather
3 and is connected to Feather 4 by a die crack. A
leaf points toward the left side of the base of the
I in AMERICA.
Approximate cost:
G $800; VF $2,500; AU50 $10,000; MS60 $25,000
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