1797 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. BB-73, B-1. Rarity-3. Stars 9x7, Large Letters. AU-53 (PCGS).；Mottled swaths of lavender, apricot and silver-gray bathe the deeply original surfaces of this wholesome example. Twinkling notions of pearlescent luster emerge from the protected regions, remaining most comprehensive throughout the reverse legend. The strike is nicely centered and overall bold, with just a negligible softness to the first few letters of LIBERTY on the obverse and the corresponding ribbon bow on the opposite side. Inspection with a glass reveals handsome composure and only faint, uniform friction across the high points. A wholly satisfying representative of this Small Eagle issue.<p>The three <em>Guide Book</em> varieties of the 1797 silver dollar correspond directly to the three known die marriages of this issue. BB-73 is the Stars 9x7, Large Letters variety, and it barely edges out BB-71 as the most readily obtainable of the issue in todays market. Q. David Bowers (2013) estimates that somewhere between 1,300 and 2,100 coins are extant in all grades, most of which are confined to one of the four grades that make up the VF level. The author observes that "Coins realistically graded AU are rare -- much more so than conventional wisdom allows." In fact, in the finer circulated and Mint State grades, BB-73 is actually rarer than BB-71. Here, then, is a significant coin for the astute bidder.<br />
