1800 $1 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, Dotted Date PCGS AU53

Here’s a classic numismatic design in a solid AU grade. This piece has a lot going for it. Despite its large mintage of 220,920, there are not many survivors today. That is because a significant amount of those coins were shipped off to China to compete in the economy with the Spanish Carolus dollars, never to be seen again.

A group of prominent die lumps invade the first 0 in the date, giving this variety its “Dotted Date” designation. An attractive peach, gold, and blue patina adorns this example. PCGS has graded 6 specimens in the Dotted Date variety as AU53 with 7 finer. Collectors Universe prices this variety at $12,500.00 in AU53.

Ann Willing Bingham, the alleged model for the Draped Bust coinage, as rendered by artist Gilbert Stuart. Image: Wikimedia Commons.

The year 1800 was the sixth year of the Draped Bust type silver dollar, which replaced the Flowing Hair type of 1794-1795. The obverse was engraved by Robert Scot, chief engraver. This design also appeared upon the fractional copper and silver coinage as well, but first appeared on the dollar.

Legend tells us that the visage of Liberty was modeled upon a Philadelphia socialite from a drawing by artist Gilbert Stuart. This design change after only one year (from the Flowing Hair type) was the brain-child of Mint Director Henry DeSaussure (and probably with the encouragement of President Washington) in his desire to improve the appearance of all U.S. coinage. John Eckstein, an artist from Rhode Island, crafted a plaster model of Stuart's rendering, from which Scot prepared the dies.