1797 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. BB-73, B-1. Rarity-3. Stars 9x7, Large Letters. AU-55 (PCGS).Significant Mint luster shimmers across the surfaces of this wonderful Choice AU example, with a satiny texture remaining on all but the highest points. This silvery luster is accompanied by accented of lavender, gold, and peach patina that is most prominent at the borders. A flaw in the planchet obscures much of the T in LIBERTY, though the surfaces are lacking in notable post-Mint blemishes. The dies are heavily fatigued in this state, with dramatic cracks and evidence of clashing visible on each side. An attractive and impressively preserved piece. pppBowers-Borckardt 73 is the sole die marriage associated with the Stars 9x7, Large Letters emGuide Book/em variety of the 1797 silver dollar, and it is the median scarcity among the three known die pairings of the issue. Plentiful in an absolute sense, at least by early dollar standards, Q. David Bowers (2013) estimates that 1,300 to 2,100 BB-73 dollars are extant in all grades. Most grade no finer than VF, however, although the persistent collector should have little difficulty locating a pleasing EF. At and above the AU level the conditionally challenging nature of this die variety comes readily to the fore, the present example among the finest available to todays quality conscious numismatists.pFrom the Greenway Collection.
