1795 $1 Flowing Hair, BB-16 VF35 认证号16294764, PCGS号39983

B-20, BB-16 2 Leaves. This R8 is the finest known BB-16 and the only one gradeable. The other two are damaged. The obverse is seen on the BB-18 and BB-17 and the reverse die is used on the BB-15. #1 CC of only 3 known specimens.

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) (B-20.)

OBVERSE 4: Flowing hair in six curls. The lowest curl is very small and perfect, and touches the innermost point of star 1, as it continues to nearly complete a loop. Curl end is close to and extends toward innermost point on star 2. Last star partly under bust, but not as far under as BB-11, and not quite as close, but it is near. (Note: In BB-14 the last star is entirely under bust.) Wide date, most space between 1 and 7.

Obverse die used to strike 1795 BB-16, BB-17, and BB-18.

REVERSE D: See description under 1795 BB-15. Two leaves under each wing. 19 berries arranged 9x10.
Reverse die used to strike 1795 BB-15 and BB-16.

AUCTION POPULATION SURVEY: Fine: 1.
Total: 1.

COLLECTING NOTES: Extremely rare. Just one has been traced. First described in Lester Merkin's sale of February 1972, Lot 299, by Walter H. Breen, as reprinted below.

NOTABLE SPECIMEN:

The Stirling Specimen. F•15 Lester Merkin, February, 1972: 299. "New muling of known dies. Obverse Bolender-7, Reverse Bolender-B, but finer than Bolender plate coin of that variety. Immediately identified by straight die scratch in field, like part of an extra A, left of first A in AMERICA, pointing to the nearest berry; recut C in AMERICA. Just about VF, many obv. adjustment marks. Rev. sharper than obv. and fully VF. The Bolender-8 die was formerly known only by two impressions of that variety; the present muling is superior to either of them and in addition represents a discovery linking the Bolender-8 dies with the remainder of the group (Bolender 16, 10, 17, 1, 2, 7, 19, 18, 12, 5 and 6). Identified by Walter Breen, originally obtained merely as a specimen of the date. Unpublished, to date unique." Described as B-21 by Lester Merkin, this variety was later included in the revised. Bolender reference as Bolender-20. Frank M. Stirling Collection.