1798 $1 Small Eagle, 15 Stars MS(PCGS#6868)

November 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Commissaire-priseur

Stack's Bowers

Numéro du lot

2108

Grade

XF40

Prix

18 000

Description du lot

BB Die State II, Salyards Die State II. Handsome iridescent toning of gold and russet on both sides, with the worn areas lighter silver as typically seen. The strike is reasonably bold on this example, with strong separation of Liberty's curls and most of the eagle's wing feathers present, the breast and thigh predictably smooth from wear. 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, included among the Mint's deliveries of mid-February 1798, with survivors numbering just 200 to 350 in all grades (per Harry E. Salyards, 2022).<p>It is indeed a curiosity why 15 stars were used on this 1798-dated obverse die, 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 partially prepared 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 Quality die steel, even with the outdated star count, was still going to be used during the challenging years of early U.S. Mint operations.<p>This reverse die with its distinctive small letters in the legend UNITED STATES, had been paired with five previous obverse dies, including ones from 1795, 1796 and 1797, covering the entire period of the Small Eagle design. The obverse of BB-81 eventually failed (after striking approximately 14,000 coins) when a severe die crack formed from beneath the final star towards Liberty's jaw.