1796 $1 Dollar Bust, Small Eagle SmDt-LgLet CACG AU58 (CAC)

A very choice AU Draped Bust Dollar, BB-61, B-4, Rarity-3. A visually appealing example of both the type and the die pairing, with vivid and uncommonly attractive secondary toning on both sides.

The obverse shows gently mottled pale silver-olive, backlit by powder blue, while the reverse is bolder, with reddish-apricot and cobalt blue iridescence outlining the design elements. Both sides are well centered and sharp, apart from minor softness at the central high points, where a touch of incomplete strike and light rub are concentrated. The finish runs frosty to semi-reflective, with a predominantly—and impressively—smooth appearance in hand, and only light, even wear consistent with the AU58 grade.

Liberty is sharply struck, with strong hair detail and crisp stars, and the reverse eagle is boldly detailed, with full feather definition and a sharp wreath. The coin presents with very nice eye appeal—a handsome, near-Mint example of the Small Date, Large Letters variety.

BB-61 is the only collectible variety behind the Small Date, Large Letters Guide Book variety for 1796. The other pairing, BB-64, is a formidable rarity, with only three examples known as of 2013. BB-61 is the most readily obtainable 1796 dollar pairing, with an estimated 650 to 1,100 examples surviving in all grades, struck and delivered between March 30, 1796 and August 28, 1797. Most survivors grade VF or lower, often with significant surface problems, so BB-61 is scarce to rare in EF and finer—especially with surfaces of this quality.

CACG has graded only one example of this variety at AU58, with none finer among CACG-graded coins—and this is that coin. For context, PCGS shows 4 at AU58 with 4 finer, and NGC shows 1 at AU58 plus 2 at AU58+, with only 2 in Mint State above them.