1799/8 $1 Draped Bust Silver Dollar PCGS XF-40 BB-141 15 Reverse Stars

1799/8 Draped Bust $1, 15 Reverse Stars Rarity-3. In 1799, the Philadelphia Mint hummed with activity, striking an impressive 423,515 silver dollars using 22 die pairs. Among these, the BB-141 variety, one of three 1799/8 overdate coins, stands out as a captivating tale of minting ingenuity and error. The obverse die, originally punched with a 1798 date, went unused until it was skillfully recut to 1799, with faint traces of the original "8" still peeking through—a subtle nod to its history. The reverse die, however, steals the show with its story of improvisation. The engraver, tasked with arranging the stars above the eagle, crafted an arc of seven stars, followed by another of six, and then added two more flanking the eagle, totaling 15 stars—oops, two too many! With costly die steel in short supply, scrapping the die wasn’t an option. Instead, the resourceful diecutter enlarged the leftmost and rightmost clouds to cover the extra stars. This clever fix didn’t fully conceal the mistake, as slivers of the hidden stars remain visible, adding character to this iconic variety. Despite the error, the die was pressed into service, producing a significant number of these distinctive silver dollars. Thanks to speculators who snapped up silver dollars to sell overseas at a profit, an estimated 700 to 1,200 examples of the BB-141 survive today, mostly in mid to high circulated grades. This particular coin, with its handsome appearance, shines as a prime example for collectors seeking a circulated piece of this storied variety, blending historical intrigue with numismatic charm. Note that it is struck slightly off-center-!

Product ID	555721
Year	1799/8
Mint Mark
Strike	MS
Grade	XF-40
Variety	15 Reverse Stars
Precious Metal Weight	0.77344 ozt Silver
Grading Agency	PCGS
Specification properties	No
Serial	47560148
Status	Active
Designation	BB-141
Additional Info	-