Early Dollars
1795 $1 Draped Bust, Centered, B-15, BB-52, R.2, AU50 NGC. Bowers Die State V. Two Draped Bust obverse dollar dies were prepared with the 1795 date, and they are easily differentiated by the unaided eye. BB-51 is famous for its off-center bust of Liberty, while BB-52 shows Liberty well-centered on the obverse. The latter variety is slightly scarcer overall than BB-51, and in the words of Dave Bowers, "BB-52 is considerably rarer than BB-51 in AU and Mint State grades."
This AU coin falls just short of Bower's Notable Specimens Condition Census, which includes only Mint State coins. However, it is an outstanding coin for the AU grade level. The strike is impressively sharp on the eagle's breast, Liberty's hair curls, and the peripheral stars. Both sides feature smooth, problem-free surfaces and display deep original gunmetal-gray patina. Light high-point wear hardly affects the level of detail.
HID02901242017