1802/1 $1 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, Wide Date BB-234 NGC AU-58+

This is the Bolender-3, BB-234 (Rarity-3) variety in die state III, identifiable by the small lump beneath the uppermost right star on the obverse. The condition census for B-3 lists fewer than a handful of Mint State survivors; at AU-58+, this coin sits so close to that threshold that it may represent a new entry.

The surfaces display modest, satiny luster that supports overall champagne-gold toning framed by peripheral bands of denim-blue and orange. Full luster covers the reverse, while the obverse retains a subdued yet uninterrupted cartwheel effect in the fields. Scattered tiny nicks and contact marks, most notably in the obverse right field, prevent a full Mint State grade; the light abrasions appear to have driven NGC’s near-Mint State assessment and the “plus” designation.

The early dollar series offers date collectors only two overdates: the relatively subtle 1799/8 and the bold 1802/1. Five distinct 1802/1 die varieties exist, each employing its own unique overdated obverse—an unusual circumstance given that only two normal-date 1802 varieties are known. All five 1802/1 obverses were prepared in 1801 but went unused that year. Although large bullion deposits had been anticipated, fewer than 55,000 dollars were struck in 1801 from just two obverses. Production was even lower in 1802, yet seven obverses were employed; many 1802-dated coins were likely struck in 1803, when the mintage exceeded those of the two preceding years. In all probability, more dollars were produced bearing the 1802 date than the 1803 date, regardless of the exact year of striking.