NEWP From Bowers and Merena 1799 Draped Bust Silver Dollar

eggbone

My new, favorite piece!!!

"1799 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. BB-168, B-22. Rarity-5. Bowers Die State III. PCGS VG-8"



The reverse die crack is an added bonus.

Barndog

nice. Did you buy it for type or for the R-5 die marriage?

eggbone

Bought as type, and liked the crack to boot!

MisterBungle

Love the bisecting reverse die crack!! It's
no wonder the die marrage is rare. Not too
many more coins were struck from that reverse
die for sure.

~

SDSportsFan

You SUCK!!!!!

That's exactly the coin and the grade I've been looking for for over a year now!!!!! :




Steve

123cents

Great DBD. Love the die crack.

StubbyMcNumbthumbs

Nice!

That's the "cameo" look I love on old original silver.

Oh yeah, and ...

Thanks for including me in your generous giveaway.

HoledandCreative

I was wondering if there were many of these out there. Thanks for the thread.

RobertScotLover

Resurrecting an old thread. What is known about this die marriage in that how many are known (and is it still an R5), what is the highest known grade and is this the latest die state known?
Thank you for any info supplied.

yosclimber

Yes, still considered R5.
https://www.earlydollars.org/coindata.asp?ID=43

[corrected]
One or two AU-50s are known, with one having auction appearances in 2022 and 2012.
https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1799-1-bb-168/40059

jacrispies

I was thinking... who still calls it Bower's and Merena??

... 2009 people do.

RobertScotLover

Hello Yosclimber,
thanks for the help. If you are speaking about the 2 au50 pcgs examples, one sold on HA.com & one sold at Goldberg's, 10 years apart, they could be the same coin unless you have seen both, or resubmittals. Unless you are certain they are 2 diff examples, then please let me know. Based on COINFACTS photos they all seem to be of a similar die state for some reason. Again tell me if I am missing something if you will.
Thanks again.

yosclimber

I agree, the AU-50 plate coin on CoinFacts is the same coin that sold at Heritage in 2022 and at Goldberg's in 2012.
Identified not just by the die state but by the marks and toning.
However, the 2022 auction description says it is tied with the Cardinal specimen.
If that is correct, there are 2 different AU-50s.
I am not familiar with the Cardinal specimen, so I can't verify that they are different.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/early-dollars/silver-and-related-dollars/1799-1-7x6-stars-b-22-bb-168-r4-au50-pcgs-pcgs-40059-/a/1344-4202.s

The die states are listed under the Hesselgesser Registry Set.
It is slightly unclear, because the last 2 states are both numbered III.
Probably the last one should be number IV.

DIE STATES:

Die State I: With perfect obverse die; reverse die not shattered. May not exist.

Die State II: Obverse with delicate crack connecting stars 11, 12, and 13. Reverse die with bisecting horizontal crack beginning at left border, right side of E, ribbon, wing, eagle's neck, wing, ribbon, left side of M, to right border. The usually seen die state.

Die State III: Obverse as preceding. Reverse is a slightly later state with blob at crack as it touches upper right of E. Scarcer than preceding. Dies as described by Bolender for BB-168. Reverse die broken across.

Die State III: Later state with the obverse developing multiple cracks to the point of shattering. Cf. Pine Tree Auctions Sale, September 1974, Lot 1028. Extremely rare. Not seen.

https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/mycoinfacts/1799-b-22-bb-168/977807/24633

RobertScotLover

Thanks again Yosclimber. Interestingly the pcgs pop says only 1 in au50. And with regards to the HA description saying tied for finest known at 2, that could easily be a mistake since one cannot go by auction house descriptions for accurate statements .In fact in that description you are speaking about HA described the rarity as R4 which we know is incorrect. I think The Cardinal collection would love to own the Hesselgesser pedigreed example if the opportunity presented itself.
Fun stuff here.
P.S. would love to see the VLDS and view the shattered die state from 9/1974 that would be fascinating.