1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar. BB-1, B-1, the only known dies. Rarity-4. VF-35 (PCGS). A richly toned and handsome piece, this coin offers excellent Choice VF detail and strong mid-grade eye appeal for the classic 1794 Flowing Hair silver dollar rarity. Both sides are warmly and evenly toned in steely charcoal-gray that provides a lovely antique appearance. Unlike for so many survivors of this rare and challenging issue, this piece was struck from dies that were well aligned in the press and delivered a near-universally sharp strike throughout the design. Only in the usual areas - in other words, the left obverse and reverse peripheries - do we see a touch of softness, but all of the stars and letters in those areas are more or less fully outlined, and certainly fully appreciable. Additionally, the date is full and bold, and the denticulation is nearly complete around both sides. BB Die State III, Libertys third hair curl (from the bottom) is shallow.<p>Regarding surface preservation, several tiny rim bruises are evident on both sides, the most prominent of which is outside star 14 on the obverse. As well, we note numerous handling marks scattered about on both sides, although fortunately most are small enough in size to be singularly inconspicuous to the unaided eye. Close inspection, however, reveals a few crisscrossing pin scratches in the right obverse field before Libertys chin and, on the reverse, a series of equally fine pin scratches around much of the periphery. More prominent for provenance purposes are a few tiny nicks on the obverse over and around the digit 1 in the date, and another in the reverse field to the left of the eagles legs. There are no prominent adjustment marks, however, and the focal design elements retain plenty of bold to sharp detail.<p>Despite having seen a moderate amount of handling in earlier years, this piece has come down to the present day with above average eye appeal in a circulated 1794 dollar. That is survived at all is perhaps even more significant, for there are not many more than 150 or so of these extant - far too small a number to meet the strong numismatic demand for this historic first year silver dollar issue from the fledgling United States Mint. This piece will certainly have no difficulty finding its way into an advanced cabinet, where it will be a treasured highlight for years to come. Ex our (Stacks) sale of the Davis-Graves Collection, April 1954, lot 1265; our (Stacks) sale of the Fairbanks Collection, December 1960, lot 530; Dr. Charles L. Ruby; Superiors Gilhousen Collection sale, Part III, October 1973, lot 1210; our (Stacks) Joel O. Cheek Collection sale, May 2002, lot 316; Ira & Larry Goldbergs Pre-Long Beach Auction of September 2003, lot 516.
