1803 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. BB-255, B-6. Rarity-2. Large 3. MS-61 (PCGS).Here is a highly desirable Mint State example of this perennially popular, yet conditionally challenged early U.S. Mint series. The surfaces are exceptionally smooth both for the type and assigned grade, revealing nothing beyond wispy marks from early collector handling. Soft satin texture overall with mottled iridescent highlights in the protected areas around many of the design elements. The strike is nicely centered and well executed; the lack of commercial use has resulted in bold to sharp detail being retained for all features. BB Die State II.1803 is the final date in the United States Mints early dollar series. Although a trickle of dollars emerged from the Mint in 1804, these were all from earlier-dated dies, probably 1801, 1802 and/or 1803. On the 1803 Large 3 obverse used for the BB-255 variety, offered here, the 3 is repunched low and this is diagnostic to identify the die. It is the most frequently encountered attribution for the issue, similar in status to BB-241 for the 1802-dated issue. "Notwithstanding all of this, in Mint State [BB-255] is not the most often seen 1803 variety. That distinction does to BB-252, for reasons not understood today." (Q. David Bowers, <em>The Encyclopedia of United States Silver Dollars: 1794-1804</em>, 2013.) Newly certified by PCGS and making its first appearance in the modern numismatic market, the Millholland specimen is a newcomer to the Condition Census for these dies. It is a supremely attractive coin for the grade that would do equally well in an advanced type set or early dollar cabinet.PCGS# 6901.PCGS Population: 2; 7 finer (MS-65 finest).From the Collection of James Allaire Millholland, 1842-1911.
