1795
Silver Dollar - 1797 Silver Dollar - 1799 Silver Dollar - Silver
Dollar Three Coin Set
The
Three Coin Set consists of a Flowing Hair silver dollar and
two Draped Bust dollars. All of the designs were made by Engraver
Robert Scot. The earliest was used in 1794 and 1795. The obverse
shows a youthful Liberty facing right in profile with her
hair flowing behind her. LIBERTY is above with eight six-pointed
stars to the left and seven to the right. The date is below
the truncation.
The
reverse shows a small, unrealistic eagle facing right, perched
on a rock. Around the eagle is a laurel wreath tied at the
bottom with a ribbon. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
surrounds the wreath. Dentils are at the periphery of both
sides of the coin, and the edge is inscribed ONE HUNDRED
CENTS…ONE DOLLAR…OR UNIT.
Draped Bust Silver dollars are dated from
1795 to 1804. The two types are known as the Small Eagle
and the Heraldic or Large Eagle reverse. The obverse, which
is common to both types, shows a draped bust of Liberty
in profile facing right. Her flowing hair is tied with a
ribbon, the bow ends of which are prominent.
The number of stars to the left and right
of Liberty vary, but the inscription LIBERTY is at the top
and the date is below the truncation. The noted American
artist Gilbert Stuart is said to have provided a drawing
of Ann Bingham for Liberty; however, apparently the Engraver,
John Eckstein translated the drawing very poorly, and Stuart’s
family refused to acknowledge his role in the coinage design.
1795 Silver
Dollar - The first coin is a Flowing Hair
silver dollar. The coin is identified as the BB-14. Star
15 is “hidden” from Liberty’s view, entirely
under the bust. This is the only 1795 obverse with this
feature. The reverse has two leaves under each wing. There
are nine berries on the left branch of the wreath and eight
berries on the right. Almost exactly between the S and T
of STATES there is a berry. This is the only variety reverse
on which this berry is centered.
Approximate cost: G $2,000;
VF $6,000; AU50 $17,500; MS60 $90,000
The
first reverse is the Small Eagle that is similar
to the 1794-95 design. In this version of the design,
the earlier all laurel wreath is replaced by half
palm and half laurel wreath of approximately the
same size. The ends of the wreath are tied together
with a ribbon in a bow. The design is encircled
with the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Dentils
are at the periphery of both sides of the coin,
and the edge is inscribed ONE HUNDRED CENTS…ONE
DOLLAR…OR UNIT.
1797
Silver Dollar - The pictured coin
is a Draped Bust, Small Eagle dollar. It is the
BB-73 variety, which had 16 obverse stars. Nine
stars are to the left and seven are to the right.
There are heavy die file lines in front of Liberty’s
neck, most of which slant down to the right. This
obverse die was also used to strike BB-72. The reverse
uses Large Letters.
There are 8 berries in the left
branch of the wreath. The lowest berry is near the
ribbon bow on the inside of the wreath. A leaf ends
under the center of the upright of the E in STATES,
and a leaf points to the left corner of the I in
UNITED. Another leaf points to the left corner of
the first T in STATES. All of the A’s in the
legend show a defect in their upper left corner.
This reverse die was also used to strike the 1798
BB-82.
Approximate cost:
G $1,750; VF $6,000; AU50 $17,500; MS60 $57,000
The
second reverse is the Heraldic or Large Eagle. Across
the eagle’s neck is a ribbon that is inscribed
with the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM. It its right talon
it holds a bundle of arrows; in its left is an olive
branch. Above the eagle is a group of stars, arranged
in different patterns, and above them is an arc
of clouds. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA encircles
the design. Like the previous issue, dentils are
at the periphery of both sides of the coin, and
the edge is inscribed ONE HUNDRED CENTS…ONE
DOLLAR…OR UNIT.
Scot’s Heraldic or Large Eagle
has been the subject of some controversy because
instead of following the pattern used on the Great
Seal of the United States, Scot reversed the position
of the olive branch and arrows. Held in the right
or dexter claw, the arrows represent defiant militarism.
Some have held that Scot simply made an error; however,
others believe that the change was a deliberate
warning to France and the other European powers
to be mindful of the sovereignty of the United States.
At the time there was a naval war with France known
as the Franco-American or Quasi-War over shipping
rights. There is no doubt that France would have
been sensitive to a change in heraldry such as was
done on the coinage of this time.
1799
Silver Dollar - The third illustrated
coin is a Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle dollar. It
is the BB-166 variety, which is an example of one
of the 7X6 Obverse Stars dollars. The letters of
LIBERTY are close to each other. Star 8 is the closest
star, and it is slightly closer to the Y than Star
7 is to the L in LIBERTY. Star 1 is farther from
the hair curl than Star 13 is from the bust. The
numeral 1 of the date is recut to a straight top.
On the reverse, the A in STATES touches the clouds,
and the right edge of A is over Cloud 3. The leaf
of the olive branch points to the center of the
I in AMERICA. The first A touches both Feathers
3 and 4. The letters ME are joined at their bottoms.
The point of Star 12 touches the eagle’s beak,
and two points of Star 2 touch clouds.
Approximate cost:
G $900; VF $2,500; AU50 $8,000; MS60 $25,000
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1795 Silver Dollar 1797 Silver Dollar 1799 Silver Dollar Silver Dollar Three Coin Set
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