1798 Silver Dollar - 1798 Early $1 Large Eagle PCGS XF45. Pointed Tail 9, Large Eagle, BB-120. Traces of mint luster remain within the devices of this lightly circulated 1798 silver dollar. The coin is a mixture of tan, rose, and silver-gray. The lines of the drapery show distinctly around to Libertys hair, which is outlined and detailed. The surfaces are original and clean for the grade with no individually distracting abrasion marks. The coin is unevenly struck as are most of this type and date. Strong details are on the lower obverse include Libertys lower curls, the drapery and the date. On the reverse the shield, olive branch, and arrows are strong. Scuff marks on the centers of both sides are on the holder not the coin.

The Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle silver dollar 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. 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, Robert 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 coin is the BB-120 variety. The 1 and 7 are close together and the 9 and 8 are far apart. The 1 is near the lowest curl, and the 8 is far from the bust. Libertys lips are open. There is a wide space between Stars 10 and 11. Star 13 points to the center of a dentil. This obverse die was used only for this variety. The reverse has a line star pattern. Star 12 touches the lower part of the eagles beak. There are five berries on the olive branch. The two closest to the eagles talon are closest together, and there are thirteen perfect arrows in the other talon.

In its population report, PCGS shows 1 1789 BB-120 in XF45 condition with 3 better. At NGC there are 2 in XF45 with none better.