1796. Large Date, Small Letters. B-5, BB-65. Rarity 4. PCGS graded VF-35. Deeply toned on both sides. This date has a single-use reverse. Small letters. Leaf under A of STATES. Seven large berries in wreath, and a very small 8th berry is made to show on inside stem of lowest sprig of leaves on left. Three leaves beneath eagle's right (to observer's left) wing, these having been added by hand in front of the cloud. Eagle punch impressed deeply and strongly into the working die; thus, coins from this die have much better breast feather definition than on BB-61. Wreath differs from any other variety, several leaves touching letters of legend. Quickly identifiable by a lump at right top of I in AMERICA; this lump does not touch C in the earlier state of the dies.
Note: This is the third and final Small Letters reverse die in the series. The others were the long-lived die first used to strike 1795 BB-51, later 1796 BB-62, BB-63, and BB-66 now relapped, 1797 BB-72, and 1798 BB-82, and another die used to strike 1795 BB-52. The obverse of BB-65 is believed to be the latest die made bearing the 1796 date, but the reverse, the Small Letters style, is the style of 1795 and, possibly, early 1796, and was probably the first 1796 reverse cut (before the two Large Letters dies). The reverse of BB-65 could have been made in 1795 but not used then. Reverse die used to strike 1796 BB-65 only
(PCGS # 40002) Estimated Value $5,000 - 5,500
Draped Bust Dollars
