When I first started collecting as a kid, the local shop owner had an 1805 Draped Bust Dime in his case. I drooled over that coin for years, and finally was able to buy it one day. It was a lovely original AG03 or G04, raw. Even in that low of a grade, it was my favorite design, and remains so to this day. So the other day I stumbled across a listing on eBay with not-so-great pics. An 1803 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. After asking for opinions on authenticity from @TypeCoin971793 and others, I decided to buy it. Typecoin also attributed it for me as a BB-255, large 3 variety. So I sent in a best offer and nabbed it for $1400. You know that feeling when all your hopes come to fruition? Well... here she is in all her glory! To find a raw one like this in the jungle of eBay is nothing short of a miracle.
Nice coin. I like the draped busts almost as much as the capped. (Admittedly, most people seem to like the draped bust design even more.) Sure you can. That way there are more CBHs left for the rest of us.
Nice score! Looks to have exceptionally nice surfaces for the grade. I absolutely love the look of this type when E Pluribus Unum is clearly visible. How do you grade it, John? Looks to have some retained luster around the obv stars and reverse lettering.
Very nice purchase. The draped bust is my favorite portrait of liberty that is not full length. They've had over 200 years to improve on it but have not been able to do so. She has that wonderful smile all the way from MS to VF
Pretty coin. The Draped Bust is a lovely series of designs (they differ on different denominations). IMHO, among the finest designs we've ever had. I still wonder why Walter Breen wrote that John Reich's first job at the Mint was to "replace the unsatisfactory Scot designs." Let's try to keep the comments on a high plane. (Yes, pun intended.) Who, here, thinks the Draped Bust is an unsatisfactory design?
Interesting that the mint was not able to reproduce the beauty of the image even though they had an example right in front of them & 2 centuries of new technology.
Wow. It is almost unimaginable that it was found RAW on eBay. The Draped Bust design is also my favorite, followed closely by the Morgan.