1802 Silver Dollar|1802 S$1 NGC XF45 B-6 BB-241

1802 Silver Dollar - 1802 S$1 NGC XF45. BB-241, B-6. Here is a lovely, balanced, Close Date 1802 Silver Dollar with light gray and sliver-iridescent toning. The colors attest to the coins originality. The surfaces are clean for the grade with no notable abrasion marks or other distractions. Libertys hair is well outlined and detailed. The lower drapery lines show distinctly from the front of the bust around to the hair curls. The coin was well struck because the motto, which is often weak, is fully legible.

The BB-241 is identified by a perfect date with a wide space between 8 and 0. The 2 is distant from the drapery. The T in LIBERTY is missing its right foot. On the reverse, 12 arrows show plainly. The point of the left most arrow is under the left edge of the left serif of N in UNITED. The eagles upper beak touches the ray of Star 12 off its point. The first A in AMERICA touches Feather 3 and is connected to Feather 4 by a die break. The leaf tip points to the left part of the base of the I in AMERICA.

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.

Thomas Jefferson chose Scot to be the first Chief Engraver of the United States Mint on November 23, 1793. 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. His salary in 1795 was $1,200 per year. The Mint Director received only $800 dollars per year more. 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. These include the Flowing Hair and the Draped Bust motifs used on early silver coins and the Capped Bust gold coins. Scot also designed the 1794-1797 half-cent, the 1800-1808 draped bust half-cent, and the Thomas Jefferson Indian Peace Medal. He died on November 1, 1823 and was succeeded by William Kneass as Chief Engraver.

The early Mint in Philadelphia had many challenges. Conditions were poor even at times chaotic. Each of the specialists, the designers, engravers, and press operators were men who had previously worked in other fields. Coin manufacturing was a new trade for them. Production was sporadic. For the new Mint to coin each of the mandated denominations, it took four years. This delay was partly because of inexperience and governmental obstacles. Bonds that were unrealistically high were impediments to engravers working with precious metals. Congress was not united on the need for a government mint since private and foreign coinage seemed to work. Because of the non-existent or low production numbers in the early years of the Mint, foreign copper, silver and gold circulated along with American made coins for many years until they were later demonetized.

In its population report, NGC shows 4 1802 BB-241 silver dollars certified at the XF45 level.