Rarity: Very Common

Variety equivalents:
Bowers-Borckardt 27

Images courtesy of Superior Galleries

Significant examples:
PCGS MS-61.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. "The Pre-Long Beach Auction", February 24-25, 2003, Lot 691, "Toned with a deep gunmetal blue color throughout, slightly lighter on Liberty herself as she gazes upwards and onwards. Good luster in the fields, as expected for the grade, and nice surfaces for a coin of this age and size. No significant bumps or nicks are found, and this is a great coin for the type or date specialist. Although a common variety, few were preserved in mint state grades. Fairly sharp in the strike, with just a touch of weakness on the eagle's breast", sold for $43,700.00.

Recent appearances:
PCGS AU-58.  Heritage 05/2001:6281, $33,062.50

"Choice AU, close to BU".  Newcomb - Colonel Green - purchased privately from Abner Kreisberg on April 6, 1964 - Stack's 05/2001:18, $29,900.00

AU-50 (illustrated above).  Superior 06/2000:1579, $8,912.50, where it was described as follows: "1795 Flowing Hair Bolender-5 AU50 Second year of this desirable two-year Type. The obverse features the same flowing hair Liberty that designer Robert Scot used in 1794, but with clear differences. For Bolender-5, there are 3 leaves underneath each of the eagle's wings. B-5 is one of the easiest varieties to identify from it's short dash-like raised die line in the field to the right of the 5th star from left (counting from the 1 of the date).  'Statute One,' of the fledgling American government, the Mint Act of April 2, 1792, authorized coinage of silver dollars at the weight of 416 grains and a fineness of 1,485 parts silver, 179 parts copper. The coins were supposed to pass at par with Spanish and Mexican dollars (the international trade coin of the day), though the primitive assaying methods available at the time prevented authorities from learning the true Spanish standard, which was 65/72 silver, 7/72 copper = 902 7/9 Fine (compared to the Philadelphia Mint's 892.43+ Fine). But because Spanish and Mexican dollars remained legal tender at par with those coined by federal authority until 1857, worn Mexican and South American 'pieces of eight' circulated preferentially. Little bullion was brought in for coinage into United States dollars, and only a fraction of those reached circulation. In 1795, there were 160,295 Flowing Hair Dollars minted." - Superior 10/2000:3482, $8,625.00

PCGS AU-50.  Heritage 08/2000:6135, $7,762.50

NGC AU-50.  Goldbergs 02/2003:689, "Deep steel gray in color with slightly lighter shades on the devices. Well preserved for the grade, with no marks or bumps worthy of note. On the reverse there are light adjustment marks on the upper left rim and a couple through the eagle's body. Dark streaks extend from rim to rim horizontally on the reverse as well. One for the type collector who needs the Flowing Hair type, and one of the most common bust dollar varieties of the entire series. Well struck throughout.", sold for $9,487.50.

PCGS EF-45 Premium.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coin & Collectibles' "The Fairchild Family Trust Collection Sale", May 28-30, 2001, Lot 844, "B-5", illustrated, sold for $6,325.00

NGC VF-35.  Ex - Bowers & Merena Galleries' "The Rarities Sale", January 3, 2001, Lot 263, "BB-27, B-5", illustrated, sold for $3,335.00  From the Great Lakes Collection

PCGS VF-25.  Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Philadelphia 2000 Signature Sale", August 6-7, 2000, Lot 6131, "Bolender 5", illustrated, sold for $2,415.00

VF-20.  Ex - Bowers and Merena Galleries' Robert W. Schwan Collection Sale, October 26-27, 2000, Lot 1402, "Bolender-5, Three Leaves, Head of 1795", sold for $2,415.00

VF-20 Cleaned.  Ex- Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "October 2000 Long Beach Sale" October 5-7, 2000, Lot 6837, "Bolender-5, BB-27, Three Leaves," not illustrated, sold for $1,265.00

VF-20, Scratches.  Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Long Beach Signature Sale", May 31-June 2, 2001, Lot 5680, "B-5", not illustrated, sold for $1,495.00

Fine-15, cleaned.  Superior Galleries' "Pre-Long Beach Sale", October 1-3, 2000, Lot 3484, "Bolender 5", illustrated, sold for $1,610.00

Sharpness of Fine-12 but repaired.  Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Benson Collection, Part I", February 16, 18-20, 2001, Lot 1945, "Three leaves beneath each wing.  Bolender-5, Rarity-1", illustrated, sold for $1,150.00

Very Good.  Ex - Stack's "65th Anniversary Sale", October 17-19, 2000, Lot 1135, "Bolender 5", not plated, sold for $1,035.00