1802 $1 Draped Bust Silver Dollar PCGS XF-40 BB-241 CAC

CAC. The 1802 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, heralded as the "King of Early Dollars," embodies the nascent United States Mint's ambition in the early 19th century. PCGS has graded only 61 of the BB-241 variety. Of those, there are 8 in VF35 with 36 finer.

The obverse showcases Robert Scot's iconic Draped Bust portrait of Liberty, her flowing hair bound by a ribbon inscribed "LIBERTY.” The reverse features a heraldic eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows, encircled by "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and a ribbon reading "E PLURIBUS UNUM," edged with clouds and stars.

Graded Very Fine-35, it displays moderate even wear with sharp remaining details—Liberty's hair strands and drapery folds remain visible, while the eagle's feathers and shield retain definition. Original silver-gray toning enhances its eye appeal, free of major distractions. As one of eight known die marriages for 1802, BB-241 represents a scarcer variety, with the Narrow Date configuration adding numismatic significance to this historic early dollar.

The present example was last auctioned by Heritage on February 3, 2014, and was described then as "Bowers Die State III, the usual die state for this variety. Predominantly gray-brown toning appears on both sides of this attractive dollar, with light silver high points. Scattered marks and trivial scratches on each side are consistent with the grade."