U.S. COIN REFERENCE · Draped Bust dollar
Draped Bust dollars: an 1804 date needs its own history
The date on the die does not always describe the year the coin was made.
By SalarsNet · Reviewed October 5, 2026
Small and heraldic eagles
The small-eagle reverse belongs to 1795–1798, followed by the heraldic eagle. Regular dated production ends with 1803. The famous 1804-dated pieces were made later for presentation and as restrikes; they are not an ordinary additional year of circulation coinage.
Type references: PCGS Draped Bust Dollar ↗
A full die pair before a famous label
Photograph stars, portrait placement, date, reverse eagle, edge, and fields. Bolender or other specialist attribution describes the dies, while a grade describes preservation. An apparent overdate, unusual star count, or prooflike field needs the matching diagnostics. Keep provenance separate from resemblance to an image.
Type references: PCGS Draped Bust Dollar ↗
Choose the comparison that survives authentication
Use the exact date and reverse type, then grade and surface problems. A claimed 1804 requires specialist authentication and documented classification before valuation. For an ordinary heraldic-eagle dollar, comparable sales of genuine coins with similar adjustment marks and wear are more useful than a celebrated presentation dollar.
Type references: PCGS Draped Bust Dollar ↗
Selected reviewed issue records
These catalog standards describe the named issue, not a measured specimen. The selected records below do not cover every date, mint, strike, or die variety. Reported production is labeled separately from established mintage. Unknown standards and mintage remain visible; survival estimates and certified populations are separate research questions.
No issue-level specification or mintage records are published for this category yet. Verify the exact date, mint, strike, metal, and subtype in its reference before using a numerical standard.
References and review
Reference reviewed October 5, 2026. Historical facts and catalog standards need to match the exact issue; price comparisons should be researched at the time of valuation.