1798 Silver Dollar - 1798 Early $1 PCGS XF45. Large Eagle Point 9. BB-120, B-12. The premium quality appearance of this lustrous 1798 Silver Dollar (1798 Draped Bust, Large Eagle silver dollar) is a result of it excellent surfaces. This 1798 Silver Dollar shows wear in keeping with the grade, but the surfaces are original and clean with no individually distracting abrasion marks. While slightly weak in the centers, this 1798 Silver Dollar piece has full details on Libertys highest hair and drapery. On the reverse the lower portion of the shield and the olive branch are strong. The coin is toned silver-grey with highlights of blue-grey, tan, and light rose.

The BB-120 variety has the 17 of the date close together and the other numerals further apart. The 1 of the date is near Libertys curl, and the 8 is far from the bust. Libertys mouth is open. Star 13 points to the center of a dentil. On the reverse, the star touches the lower beak. A line rather than an arc star pattern is used. There are five small berries, and the 13 arrows are perfect.

The Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle silver dollar was designed by Robert Scot. It was made from 1798 to 1804. The design shows a draped bust of Liberty in profile facing right. Above is LIBERTY, and below is the date. Seven six-pointed stars are to the left and six are to the right. The portrait on the obverse, taken from a drawing by the famous artist Gilbert Stuart, is of Ann Bingham. John Eckstein translated this drawing to models for Engraver Robert Scot. Evidently Eckstein made the models poorly, which might explain why Stuarts family refused to acknowledge his role in the coinage design. The heraldic eagle reverse shows the eagle with up stretched wings and a Union shield on its breast.

A banner inscribed E PLURIBUS UNUM curls across the left wing and under the right. Except for the wing tips, the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc near the periphery. Thirteen stars are above the eagles head under the clouds in a line pattern. Dentils are near the edge on both sides of the coin. The edge is lettered HUNDRED CENTS ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT with ornamentation between the words.

In what some have called colossal design blunder, Scot placed the arrows in the wrong talon. On the left side, the eagles right talon, arrows symbolize aggressive militarism. They should have been placed in the left talon with the olive branch in the right. If this rearrangement was unintentional, it shows a new, inexperienced country that cant even get its symbolism correct. If this was a deliberate rearrangement, it shows a young  country taking an aggressive stance during a time of conflict. In 1799 the country 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.

The BB-120 is a rare variety. In its population report, PCGS shows 1 1798 BB-120 dollars in XF45 condition with 2 better. NGC has 2 in XF45 and none better.