1799 Silver Dollar PCGS VF35 CAC - 1799 $1 PCGS VF35 CAC. This choice VF Draped Bust 1799 dollar has deep lavender-gray and olive-brown toning, which attests to the coins originality. The surfaces are clean for the grade with just a few small marks in the field near Libertys chin. The devices are well defined as are most of the letters of the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. The lines of drapery are strong and about two-thirds of the hair is well outlined and detailed. The CAC sticker indicates that the coin is a premium quality piece that fully deservers the assigned grade. 

The BB-157 is one of the 7X6 varieties. Light clash marks appear at the top of the date between the two 9s. Star 1 is small and thin. Star 8 is closer to the Y than Star 7 is to the L. Star 1 is farther from the curl than Star 13 is from the bust. On the reverse, the U in UNITED is cut off at the upper left top so there is no left serif. A leaf points to the right side of the I in AMERICA. All six stars touch the clouds. Stars 5 and 6 have two points that touch. Stars 1 4 each have one point touching. The right edge of A in STATES is over the junction of Clouds 3 and 4. The point of Star 12 touches the eagles lower beak. Its ray points to the center of the left upright of the U in PLURIBUS. The first A in AMERICA touches the third feather. 

The Draped Bust dollar, designed by Robert Scot, was based on a drawing of Ann Bingham by the famous artist, Gilbert Stuart. Evidently John Eckstein, the engraver, translated the drawing poorly, which might explain why Stuarts family refused to acknowledge his role in the coinage design. On the reverse, 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.

Scot was born in 1744 in Edinburgh, Scotland or England. (Documentary evidence is lacking as to where he was born.)  He was trained as a watchmaker in England and learned engraving afterwards. He moved to the United States in 1777, where he worked as an engraver of plates, bills of exchange, and office scales. During the Revolution, he was an engraver of paper money. In 1780 he was made the State Engraver of Virginia. He moved to Philadelphia the next year. He was appointed Chief Engraver of the United States Mint on November 23, 1793 by David Rittenhouse, Mint Director. Scots ability to make dies was limited, and in his advanced years he had failing eyesight. His work was somewhat less than that done in Europe at the time, and Scot was criticized for its poor quality. He was responsible for designs of most of Americas first coins.

In its population report, PCGS shows 1 1799, BB-157 in VF35 condition with 7 better. The CAC population reports do not distinguish die varieties for this issue.