1795 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. BB-51, B-14. Rarity-2. Off-Center Bust. AU-50 (PCGS). Swaths of bronze and maroon patina reveal flashes of magenta, gold, and sapphire iridescence under a light source. Well centered and sharp across the focal elements, the surfaces remain delightfully smooth for the assigned grade. <p>Two different die combinations were used for the 1795 Draped Bust dollar. The die pair believed to have been struck first is the so-called Off-Center Bust variety, BB-51, which features Liberty appearing too far to the left from the center, a position used only on this die pair. This positioning was corrected to a more aesthetically pleasing centered location on the second variety, the BB-52 pair. The precise number struck and timing of each variety is unclear. BB-51 is the more plentiful of the two die marriages of this issue, and Bowers suggests that 1,400 to 2,000 coins are extant in all grades. With the typical survivor grading VF, however, even EF coins are scarce in an absolute sense, and rare relative to the demand for them in todays numismatic hobby. A lustrous AU example like this is a truly superior survivor and sure to see considerable demand. <p> From the Naples Bay Collection. From the Naples Bay Collection.
