1799 BB-159 Stars 8×5 Draped Bust Silver Dollar

Value of 1799 BB-159 Draped Bust Silver Dollar

Stars 8×5

This Dollar has the catalog numbers: Bowers Borckardt-159, Bolender-23, or Haseltine-23

Obverse: Only 5 stars to right of bust, facing. The obverse stars are arranged eight to the left and five to the right; the only 1799 with this peculiar arrangement. The reason for this configuration is unknown. It may have been a blundered die, or the engraver may have accidentally punched the eight stars on the left after just having cut a die for a 1799 $10 gold coin. He would then have been forced to complete the die using only five stars on the right. Given the care taken to prepare dies at the Mint for dollar coinage this year, the 8×5 stars blunder is all the more remarkable.
Reverse: The reverse die is the same as BB-158. U in UNITED defective at upper left, due to broken U punch. Now on BB-159 the upper berries are very small. Far right edge of A is over junction of clouds 3 and 4.
Total Estimated Population: 500 to 900

Draped Bust $1 coins are rare in most grades. These coins are known for their beautiful design and attention to detail. If you have one of these coins, please contact one of our local coin experts to have your rare coin appraised. We offer free rare coin appraisals and would love to buy your coin. Our rare coin price guide should give you all the information you need, but if you need more information, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of rare coin experts.