The Draped Bust dollar carried a more formal Liberty portrait into the trade channels of the early republic and changed from a small eagle to a heraldic eagle reverse.

The circulation series runs from 1795 through 1803. Coins dated 1804 are later diplomatic, restrike, or related special productions and must be read separately.

Core specifications

Issue period
1795–1804
Catalog mints
1
Reported catalog mintage
1,604,726
Composition
89% Silver - 11% Copper
Diameter
39.5 mm
Weight
26.96 g

A silver dollar made for commerce beyond the Mint

Large silver dollars moved readily into banking and overseas trade, so their production history cannot be understood only by looking for worn coins in everyday domestic change.

The reverse transition from a small eagle to the heraldic eagle creates the main type division. The celebrated 1804-dated pieces belong to a later and exceptionally specialized production story.

Obverse, reverse, and the details that identify the type

Confirm the major design, date, and mint mark before studying smaller die differences.

The main portrait and date

A mature Liberty with tied, draped hair faces right, with stars around the field and the date below.

Denomination, subject, and mint mark

Early coins use a small eagle within a wreath; later coins adopt a heraldic eagle with shield, clouds, and an arc of stars.

Where the cataloged coins were made

Totals are calculated from reported issue records in this catalog; unknown figures are not counted as zero.

  • P — Philadelphia: 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804; 1,604,726. Philadelphia issues commonly carry no P mint mark in classic series; confirm the expected blank area rather than searching for a letter.

Representative issues that explain the series

Start by separating the two reverse types, then study date, die marriage, strike, adjustment marks, and surfaces.

  • 1795 P - All Varieties — 42,738. Open the issue page and read this record together with its type, mint, finish, and grade context.

Start with the major type, then study smaller die differences

The current catalog records 1 varieties. A variety name describes repeatable die features; it does not automatically mean error, rarity, or added value.

The issue catalog keeps all 1 modeled varieties attached to their parent issue records.

Issue catalog

1795 P Draped Bust Dollar - All Varieties1795 P Draped Bust Dollar - Centered Bust1795 P Draped Bust Dollar - Off Centered Bust1796 P Draped Bust Dollar - All Varieties1796 P Draped Bust Dollar - Small Date - Small Letters1796 P Draped Bust Dollar - Small Date - Large Letters1796 P Draped Bust Dollar - Large Date - Small Letters1797 P Draped Bust Dollar - All Varieties1797 P Draped Bust Dollar - 9 Stars Left - 7 Stars Right - Small Letters1797 P Draped Bust Dollar - 9 Stars Left - 7 Stars Right - Large Letters1797 P Draped Bust Dollar - 10 Stars Left - 6 Stars Right1798 P Draped Bust Dollar - All Varieties - Small Eagle Reverse1798 P Draped Bust Dollar - 13 Stars On Obverse1798 P Draped Bust Dollar - 15 Stars On Obverse1798 P Draped Bust Dollar - All Varieties - Large Eagle Reverse1798 P Draped Bust Dollar - Knob 9 - 5 Vertical Lines In Shield1798 P Draped Bust Dollar - Knob 9 - 4 Vertical Lines In Shield1798 P Draped Bust Dollar - Pointed 9 - Close Date - Normal 81798 P Draped Bust Dollar - Pointed 9 - Close Date - High 81798 P Draped Bust Dollar - Pointed 9 - Wide Date1798 P Draped Bust Dollar - Pointed 9 - 5 Vertical Lines In Shield1798 P Draped Bust Dollar - Pointed 9 - 4 Vertical Lines In Shield - 10 Arrows1798 P Draped Bust Dollar - Pointed 9 - 4 Berries1799 P Draped Bust Dollar - All Varieties1799 P Draped Bust Dollar - 9 Over 8 - 13 Star Reverse1799 P Draped Bust Dollar - 9 Over 8 - 15 Star Reverse1799 P Draped Bust Dollar - Irregular Date - 13 Star Reverse1799 P Draped Bust Dollar - Irregular Date - 15 Star Reverse1799 P Draped Bust Dollar - Normal Date - 7x6 Stars Obverse - No Berries1799 P Draped Bust Dollar - Normal Date - 7x6 Stars Obverse - With Berries1799 P Draped Bust Dollar - Normal Date - 8x5 Stars Obverse1800 P Draped Bust Dollar - All Varieties1800 P Draped Bust Dollar - Normal Dies1800 P Draped Bust Dollar - Wide Date - Low 81800 P Draped Bust Dollar - Dotted Date1800 P Draped Bust Dollar - 12 Arrows1800 P Draped Bust Dollar - 10 Arrows1800 P Draped Bust Dollar - AMERICAI1801 P Draped Bust Dollar1802 P Draped Bust Dollar - All Varieties1802 P Draped Bust Dollar - Narrow Normal Date1802 P Draped Bust Dollar - Wide Normal Date1802 P Draped Bust Dollar - 2 Over 1 - Narrow Date1802 P Draped Bust Dollar - 2 Over 1 - Wide Date1802 P Draped Bust Dollar - Proof Restrike1803 P Draped Bust Dollar - All Varieties1803 P Draped Bust Dollar - Large 31803 P Draped Bust Dollar - Small 31803 P Draped Bust Dollar - Proof Restrike1804 P Draped Bust Dollar - All Varieties1804 P Draped Bust Dollar - First Reverse - Original - Class I1804 P Draped Bust Dollar - Second Reverse - Restrike - Class III1804 P Draped Bust Dollar - Second Reverse - Restrike with Plain Edge - Class II - Smithsonian Collection1804 P Draped Bust Dollar - Mint Made Electrotype of Unique Plain Edge Specimen

From one type coin to a complete catalog

  • One representative coin: Choose one problem-free, readable example and learn the size, edge, and major design.
  • Major-type set: Use one coin per major design to show changes in artwork, composition, or production.
  • Dates and mints: Work through the issue catalog by date and mint, defining special finishes separately.
  • Variety study: Choose one date or diagnostic family and record several matching markers for every attribution.

A note on catalog records

This page uses 54 issue records, 1 modeled varieties, and currently reported mintages; unknown values remain unknown.

Sources

  1. History of U.S. Circulating Coins — United States Mint
  2. Dollar Coins and Their History — United States Mint
  3. The Evolution of Liberty on U.S. Coins — United States Mint
  4. Draped Bust Dollar category reference — PCGS CoinFacts