1795 $1 Flowing Hair, B-11 VG8 认证号47721548, PCGS号39978

Ron Guth

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Q. David Bowers

The following narrative, with minor editing, is from my "Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States: A Complete Encyclopedia" (Wolfeboro, NH: Bowers and Merena Galleries, Inc., 1993). Note: the Notable Specimens list should be used with caution - it has been updated in my 2013 edition of "The Encyclopedia of United States Silver Dollars 1794-1804"

Obv: Portrait I (Head of '94)
Rev: Eagle I, Wreath I (2 leaves)

OBVERSE 1: Flowing hair in six curls; the third one from the top turns downward and touches the fourth curl. Two points of first star touch the lowest curl which ends at star point. The last star or lowest one on the right is mostly under the bust, and a point nearly touches. Close date; outlines from repunching appear at top of 5 and right top of 7 (most visible on early impressions from the die). I closer to L than to B with L slightly low.

Obverse die used to strike 1795 BB-11, BB-12, and BB-13.

DIE STATES: Die State I: Perfect dies.

REVERSE A: Two leaves under each wing. The only variety with 16 berries, eight on each branch of wreath. There are only two berries on left branch, between eagle's wing and ribbon bow, both on inside of wreath.
Reverse die used to strike 1795 BB-11 only.

AUCTION POPULATION SURVEY: Good: 1, Very Good: 2, Fine: 4, Very Fine: 6, Extremely Fine: 1, Mint State-60 or better: 3. Total: 17.

COLLECTING NOTES: Between 50 and 75 1795 BB-11 dollars exist, making this one of the more elusive issues of the Flowing Hair type. Not that it makes any difference to its price, for BB-11 sells for not much more than a common issue, but is at least twice as rare as a 1794 dollar. Such comparisons make interesting reading in auction catalogues.

The population of 1795 BB-11 seems to be clustered around the VF level which, of course, covers a fairly wide range (VF-20 to just below EF-40). Specimens are not easy to locate, and often a year will pass on the calendar without a single piece crossing the auction block. Perhaps only one Mint State coin is known.

NOTABLE SPECIMENS:
Doolittle Specimen. MS-63. Doolittle Collection (Bowers and Ruddy, 1977): Lot 2834. "Choice Uncirculated, bagmarks at a minimum, few trivial adjustment marks visible with a glass around a few border areas, couple of minor planchet defects near the first star in the field and not affecting the design; obverse has complete hair detail and reverse shows eagle's breast feathers; toned a light golden and gray color."

Ostheimer Specimen. EF-45 net. (Mint State, but damaged). A.J. Ostheimer, 3rd Collection (Lester Merkin, 1968): Lot 226, "Brilliant Uncirculated, pale gold toning here and there, exceptionally sharp strike, all claws in bold relief, almost all breast feathers visible to naked eye, minor planchet defects either side, as almost always; would be of almost gem quality but for initials SEP on obverse, these being visible only at a certain angle; one of only two Mint State examples recorded."

Parsons Specimen. VF-35. George M. Parsons Collection sale (Henry Chapman, 1914). M.H. Bolender Collection, 1952, Lot 5. K. P. Austin. AJ. Ostheimer, 3rd. ANA Convention Sale (Superior, 1975): Lot 790, "VF-35, well tarnished, faint iridescent tone and with traces of very old cleaning, well centered with bold hair detail but few tiny center reverse adjustment marks, obverse shows plenty of light handling marks. Condition Census."

Capitol City Specimen. VF-35. Capitol City Sale (Mid American, 1985): Lot 685, "VF-35/35, actually close to EF with considerable mint lustre, evenly struck with full denticles on either side, toning a very original blend of smoky-gray and khaki-green colors, obverse shows several areas of dark oxidation which are not too distracting."

Boyd Specimen. VF-30 .World's Greatest Collection, F.C.C. Boyd (Numismatic Gallery, 1945): Lot 4, VF.

Starr Specimen. VF-30 Floyd Starr Collection (Stack's, 1992): Lot 570. Very Fine. "Subdued mint lustre and a splash of toning, mostly in the central portion on each side. A small rim nick on the reverse."

Davis Graves Specimen. VF-20 net. (EF, damaged). Davis-Graves Games Davis) Collection (Stack's, 1954): Lot 1268, EF+, "initials in front of and in back of head, but still a choice dollar."

Brilliant-Sieck Specimen. F-15 net. (VF-30, polished) Brilliant and Sieck Collections (Bowers and Merena, 1992):
Lot 1629, "VF-30 or finer, but lightly polished long ago, now retoned in lilac. with areas of glue and gray."

CONDITION CENSUS: 63-45-35 (multiples)