1798 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. Small Eagle. BB-81, B-2. Rarity-3. 15 Stars on Obverse. EF-40 (PCGS).An original and truly superior specimen of this Small Eagle variety, boasting a colorful iridescence of powder blue and gold at the borders. The balance of the patina is painted in peach and slate-grey hues. Considerable luster remains in the protected areas and works to emphasize the sharply defined design elements. Minor traces of planchet adjustment remain at the reverse border but the fields are without notable post-mint defects. Beautiful and ideally preserved. This is an important die marriage as it is the only 1798 silver dollar with 15 obverse stars. Furthermore it is paired with the old style reverse with the Small Eagle motif. These were struck in quite limited quantities with survivors highly sought after today.ppIt is indeed a curiosity just why a 15 star obverse die was used, as on June 1, 1796, Tennessee joined the Union as the 16th state, and thus 16 stars would have been appropriate. However, by 1798 Philadelphia Mint policy had been to return to the original 13 stars rather than keep adding additional stars to the dies as more states joined the Union. This obverse was almost certainly engraved prior to Tennessee joining the Union and not used, then the final digit was added in 1798 and it was pressed into service. Quality die steel, even with the outdated star count, was still going to be used.From the Greenway Collection.
