United States: 1799 silver Draped Bust dollar

United States: 1799 silver Draped Bust dollar

NGC VF30. Cert. #1886300-001.

Numista-23359, Krause-Mishler-32, Bowers-Borckardt-162.

Mintage: 423,515.

Ex-Stacks Bowers Galleries Spring 2023 Auction, Lot 6582. Purchased in the slab.

The Stacks Bowers auction lot description:

"A boldly toned example with underlying cobalt blue and reddish-gold to dominant charcoal-gray. The in hand appearance is uncommonly smooth for the assigned grade, if a tad glossy in texture. One of perhaps just 300 to 500 survivors from this die pairing (per Bowers, 2013), and a desirable coin for a circulated type set. BB Die State III-IV (intermediate die state)."

This lovely early United States dollar is of the Heraldic Eagle reverse type struck from 1798 to 1804. Coins of this type dated 1804 are one of the most famous US rarities, though the ones bearing that date were actually restrikes struck decades later.

For my Draped Bust dollar type coin, I wanted a date from the 1700s. I was also after a coin with exactly this sort of "Circulation Cameo" toning. I paid a lofty premium for this piece- way beyond published price guide values- but I had to, in order to beat the competition for it in the auction. I'm seldom so cavalier about "overpaying" for a coin, and I'm likely "underwater" in this one for a long time to come, but I suppose that doesn't matter so much. I'm glad to have it, and it is my favorite US coin in my collection.



386750