1799 $10 Small Obverse Stars MS(PCGS#98562)

1799 $10 Small Obverse Stars MS (PCGS#98562)

The March 2011 Baltimore Auction

Lot Description: 1799 Capped Bust Right Eagle. BD-2, HBCC-3183, Taraszka-14. Rarity-5+. Small-Stars Obverse. MS-61+ (NGC). The NGC insert incorrectly attributes this coin as an example of the Large-Stars Obverse <em>Guide Book </em>variety. The reverse die used to strike this coin is shared by several varieties of 1799 Ten, but in the BD-2 marriage it is paired with the only Small-Stars Obverse die on which star 9 is away from the letter Y in LIBERTY. Very scarce in all grades, John W. Dannreuther (2006) accounts for only 35-45 examples of this variety extant. Bright medium-gold surfaces with satiny mint bloom that appears to burst through the holder. The reverse is fully Choice, both sides are bold-to-sharp in strike, and the obverse reveals no individually mentionable distractions among the wispy abrasions scattered about.<br />     This is Bass Obverse State d with a bold die crack (as made) from the rim through the serifs of the letter L in LIBERTY into Liberty's cap and another, much lighter crack (also as made) through the tops of the letters TY in LIBERTY to star 9. Bass Reverse State c with only minor cracks in a few areas.