1798. Small eagle, 15 stars on obverse. B-2; BB-81. PCGS graded VF-25. Evenly toned on both sides with rich violet gray combined with golden gray accents near the devices. This is a desirable coin as it has two features that are special. First off this is the only 1798 silver dollar variety with fifteen obverse stars. What makes this particularly odd, is that there were actually 16 states in the Union since June of 1796. Therefore, one must conclude that this obverse die was actually engraved in early 1796 when 15 stars were appropriate, but the final digit was not entered for the date until the die was needed, no one knowing there would be additional states joining the Union that year or even soon. As the Philadelphia Mint changed their policy in late 1797 or early 1798 to return to the original 13 stars on all coins, this leftover die was discovered and pressed into service after the final 8 was punched in and the die finished and hardened and placed into the coinage press. Similarly the reverse die is that of the Small Eagle design, and here again the new Heraldic Eagle style was already adopted for new reverse dies, but this leftover Small Eagle die was still intact and could be used, so coinage continued with this aged 1796 obverse with the old style reverse until the obverse die cracked and was replaced. One other die pair of the Small Eagle design was produced in 1798, but that obverse die has the usual 13 stars. An attractive example of this popular and unique star count.
Pop 3; 11 better (PCGS # 40007) Estimated Value $4,500 - UP
Purchased from J. Maguilan 11-6-83 The Highland Estate.
U.S. Silver Coins
