1800 Silver Dollar AMERICAI - 1800 $1 AMERICAI Reverse, PCGS XF40. BB-192, B-19, R-2. Smooth and pleasing surfaces characterize this 1800 AMERICAI Dollar. The coin is toned with light and dark shades of tan and violet with light touches of green and sliver-gray. A bit of the original mint luster remains in protected areas. The surfaces are original and far above average for an XF40 piece, with virtually no distracting abrasion marks that are worthy of individual description. The strike is typically uneven, with some details on the stars on the right side of the obverse and Libertys drapery as well as the shield and the olive branch.

The BB-192 variety is identified by the AMERICAI reverse and the obverse that shows the point of Star 1 closer to Libertys hair than the point of Star 7 is to the L in LIBERTY. This die was used only to strike this variety. The reverse die was used to strike BB-191 as well.

The AMERICAI variety, used on two reverses, was probably made by a mark from a stray punch. It does not really resemble a letter because it is too thin and has no serifs. However, traditionally it has been called an I, and so we have AMERICAI as a variety.

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.

In its population report, PCGS shows 2 1800 BB-192 dollars in XF40 condition with 6 better. NGC shows 4 in XF40 with 7 better. These numbers do not account for crossovers or resubmissions.