1797 $1 10x6 Stars MS(PCGS#6865)

Spring 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

3073

等级

AU53

价格

255,774

详细说明

Offered is a lovely, conditionally scarce example of the Draped Bust, Small Eagle silver dollar. Richly toned and original, both sides exhibit antique sandy-silver patina that is boldest with more pronounced mottling at the borders. The strike is well centered since, while the denticulation is a bit broader along the left borders than elsewhere, it is complete around both sides. Peripheral stars on the obverse are more or less soft due to die swell, and the centers are also lightly struck with Liberty's hair curls below the ear missing and no feather detail on the eagle's head, breast or legs. All major design elements are fully appreciable, nonetheless, and much frosty luster persist to confirm a short stint in active circulation. There are no marks or other blemishes of consequence to pleasingly smooth surfaces. BB Die State III, Salyards Die State II.<p>The admission of Tennessee into the Union in 1797 presented a conundrum for Mint engravers regarding adding a 16th star to the obverse. Three known obverse dies have been identified for the 1797-dated silver dollar issue with the stars arranged in two configurations. Two dies were prepared with nine stars left, seven right and a solitary die with 10 stars left, six stars right. While it had been customary to add a star for each new state, this was becoming unsustainable. In 1798 the number was fixed at 13 to reflect the original colonies, though there was a 15-star obverse that was briefly used that same year. Typical for early Mint records, the precise number struck is not known. The official mintage of 7,776 silver dollars struck that calendar year is exceptionally low considering the number of coins extant for all varieties of the 1797-dated issue. In fact, Harry E. Salyards (2022) estimates that 41,872 coins were struck from the Stars 10x6 die pairing, now known as BB-71, which includes 30,372 delivered on January 5, 1798, and an additional 11,500 or so delivered February 16, 1798. Of the 650 to 1,100 believed extant, few are better than VF, and this AU is exceptionally well preserved for the attribution. It is a significant coin worthy of the strongest bids.