Attribution Sought: 1799 Bust Dollar

Thanks Conder101. I assumed it was due to the wear of the coin; it never occurred to me that was due to the strike!

This topic is turning out better than I could have hoped for!
Does anyone know if either the Mint or the Smithsonian has a die press from the time period?
A picture of such press would be nice to see.

bifurcated - verb - used to describe a middle aged person who optometrist has just broken the news
that he or she needs bifocals.

Ex: "Hey Joe, looks like you've been bifurcated!"

I wonder, Condor101, if the weak strike was not actually a blessing. The example I have is remarkably
even instead of showing weak and strong areas.

Afford?
My dear 1916 D Merc, what makes you think that I could afford it?

I would like to acknowledge as many replies as possible with pertinent findings.

SsuperDdave,
Using your suggestion: B-5, BB-157, I found several examples which I used to compare my coin to.
The die crack is unmistakable, although the weak "U" is not consistently weak.
The examples which showed the letter first "T" in "States" with TWO die cracks, at a 90 degree angle, match mine.
Quite different. I have never seen such an example.
" A lovely coin." Coming from you, 20 times better than a CAC sticker!

jeffrose,
I found the overview quite informative. However, without pictures I had to resort to searching with Dave's hint.

g48406,
I respectfully disagree with you.

Condor101,
"bifurcated?" I LOVE that word!

Here is a 1795 Dollar showing the same "fancy" lettering.
Would you call this bifurcated, too?
To me, the letter "I" is a giveaway.

mysilveryears,
I found, but cannot locate, two examples which match your
"cut in two" example.
Are you, or anyone, familiar with the advice:

"Use it up, wear it out.
Make it do, or do without." ?

Apparently, the early years of minting coins was all about
saving money.
"Use the die until it shatters!"

To one and all, thank you for the kind comments about this coin.
I thought it was "sweet'; otherwise, I would not have bought it.

m/v, I think you might be describing my brain in the a.m. before the coffee kicks in.

And yep, I certainly have heard that old Yankee saying. I have practiced that philosophy most of my life. Unfortunately the locality where I presently dwell does not look favorably on the accumulation of recyclables and other cultural cast-offs awaiting repurposing. But that's another story.

Also I would loooove to see more examples of that particular cracked die! I still find it hard to imagine it continued to be used. *Someone* back then must have observed, "If King George and his minions see we are making coins like that, they will laugh and say our new country is already breaking apart!"

Identical indeed! One-and-the-same!
Thank you for posting that, matthew.
I paid quite a bit more than that for mine, but it's a grade up. And much prettier. Woohoo!

Now don't be shy, folks... step up and become a member of the '1799 Club' !!

Yes those are bifurcated letters.

It is a neat word and I DIDN'T make it up. The definition of the word is "to divide into two parts or branches". You can see how that applies at the bases of the uprights. I don't remember where I first saw it used but it may have been in Bolender's book on the early dollars where it appears for the first time on pages 21 and 22.

Hi, Cobey!
Always nice to speak with you. We had FUN today!
Search through this site and join if you think that it will help you with your education.
This is the best online educational group that exists.
Gotta keep that Brad in line.
Poopies, had to censor the last remark as we are a family friendly group.

And yes, we DO think alike. Soul mates as it were.