1795 Silver Plug B-7 BB-18 3 Leaves Flowing Hair Silver Dollar $1 PCGS AU 55

1795 Silver Plug B-7 BB-18 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar $1 PCGS AU 55.
"A superior grade 1795 Flowing Hair dollar with a mint inserted silver plug, this coin is from the B-7, BB-18 die pairing which is considered Rarity-3 overall, and perhaps Rarity-5 with the silver plug. A good proportion of the known plugged 1795 dollars were struck using this die pairing.
The coinage act of April 1792 that established the U.S. mint, also created the standards for the content of each authorized denomination. By late 1792, several patterns and 1,500 half dismes were produced, but mint officials had to post surety bonds in order to strike gold and silver coins, so the only coins struck in 1793 were half cents and cents. In 1794 silver coins began to be struck, most of which were half dollars and a small number of silver dollars. The standards required that precious metal coins be within a very narrow weight tolerance, overweight planchets were filed down to proper weight; underweight planchets were sometimes treated with a silver plug, where a small hole was drilled into the blank planchet and a plug of silver was inserted, then flattened when the coin was struck. Prior to this coin being struck, the adjusted weight was too heavy and the planchet was lightened slightly as there are some minor adjustment marks.
This well struck and CHOICE AU example has a rich, thick, gray patina on both sides that has bold accents of slate and deep blue, and gold toning. The strike is bold and has crisp definition throughout, including on Liberty's flowing hair and the eagle's head. Since most early dollars come in low grade or with serious flaws, this coin is a wonderful selection for a picky collector looking to enhance their type or date set." -Legend Auctions