1796 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. BB-65, B-5. Rarity-2. Large Date

Condition Census 1796 BB-65 Dollar Ex Walter-Friend-Cardinal The 2013 Bowers Plate Coin 1796 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. BB-65, B-5. Rarity-2. Large Date, Small Letters. MS-62 (PCGS). BB Die State II, Salyards Die State f. Nearly brilliant silver gray, but with a decided champagne-pink cast overall, as well as blushes of warmer reddish-rose scattered about, most of which are nestled around and among design elements. Nice frosty luster for the grade, which is especially pronounced at the peripheries. The strike is also significant with nearly full line definition at Liberty's shoulder, all feathers on the eagle's breast outlined if not fully round, and just a small oval of weakness at the top of the eagle's left leg. Very attractive for the assigned grade with only a few scattered marks, including two linear ones low on Liberty's neck, a tiny divot behind Liberty's eye, and a faint scratch in the reverse field below the eagle's beak - all are inconsequential for an early dollar in certified MS-62, but are of paramount importance in identifying this coin for provenance purposes. A handsome dollar with a full border of strong denticles and plenty of eye appeal. The year of the death of the first mint director, David Rittenhouse, and the year of John Adams' election to the presidency, some 72,920 silver dollars were struck according to mint records in calendar year 1796. Writing in the excellent 2022 reference Eagle Poised on a Bank of Clouds, Harry E. Salyards asserts that the first two deliveries of that year - 4,550 coins on January 30 and 390 coins on February 13 - were from 1795-dated Draped Bust dies. He also asserts that all 7,776 coins delivered during calendar year 1797, as well as the 8,770 pieces delivered on January 18, 1798, were from 1796-dated dies. These calculations result in an estimated mintage for the 1796-dated Draped Bust silver dollar issue of 84,626 coins. This total was achieved using six die pairs with Bowers-Borckardt 65, represented here, one of the more distinctive varieties. Both the obverse and reverse dies saw use exclusively in this marriage. While not immediately obvious, close examination reveals that the digit 6 in the date is clearly repunched. Early on in its use, a chunk of metal in the reverse die between the letters I and C in AMERICA fell out, causing a large lump to form on the coins once struck. This lump expanded significantly as the die continued in use and is an easy diagnostic for identifying the BB-65 variety. Contrary to traditional numismatic wisdom, examples without this lump break do exist, although they are rare. The second most available of 1796 dollars behind only the BB-61 die marriage, most of the estimated 475 to 800 survivors (per Salyards) are found in mid-level circulated grades. At the AU level and above, the word "rare" comes readily to the fore. Bowers (2013) includes just four Mint State coins in his listing of "Notable Specimens," which total Salyards expanded to six in 2022; the present example is included in both listings. Clearly it is a coin of immense appeal, and one that is certain to sell for a strong bid to an advanced early dollar enthusiast. Provenance: Property from an Alabama Family. Earlier ex our (Bowers and Merena's) Four Landmark Collections sale, March 1989, lot 1951; unknown intermediaries; John Whitney Walter, purchased privately in August 1984; our (Stack's) sale of the John Whitney Walter Collection, May 1999, lot 1785; Dale Friend Collection; our (American Numismatic Rarities') sale of the Cardinal Collection of Early Silver Dollars, June 2005, lot 19; Heritage's sale of the Joseph C. Thomas Collection, April-May 2009 CSNS Signature Auction, lot 2539; Dale Friend; Legend Rare Coin Auctions' sale of the Dale Friend Collection, Part I, April 2022 Regency Auction 51, lot 26. The plate coin for the 1796 BB-65 dies in the 2013 Bowers early silver dollar encyclopedia, p. 125. PCGS Population: 2; 2 finer (MS-64 finest). PCGS# 6861. NGC ID: 24X3. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.

Estimate:$1

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