Early Silver Dollars (1794-1839)
The first U.S. silver dollars struck from 1794 through 1839 are known collectively as Early Silver Dollars.
They represent the birth of America’s silver coinage and include three major design types:
Flowing Hair Dollars (1794–1795), Draped Bust Dollars (1795–1804), and Gobrecht Dollars (1836–1839). These coins are treasured for their artistry, rarity, and historical significance, making them cornerstones of advanced U.S. collections.
Flowing Hair Dollar (1794–1795)
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First official U.S. silver dollar.
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Features Liberty with flowing hair on the obverse and a small eagle within a wreath on the reverse.
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Very limited mintage; most survivors are heavily worn.
Draped Bust Dollar (1795–1804)
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Liberty redesigned by Gilbert Stuart, engraved by Robert Scot.
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Reverse shows a small eagle (1795–1797) or Heraldic Eagle (1798–1804).
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Includes one of the most famous U.S. rarities: the 1804 Dollar (struck later as presentation pieces).
Gobrecht Dollar (1836–1839)
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Designed by Christian Gobrecht, precursor to the Liberty Seated design.
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Obverse features Liberty seated on a rock, reverse shows a soaring eagle.
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Struck in very limited numbers, mostly proofs.
Key Dates & Rarities
| Date/Type | Mintage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1794 Flowing Hair | 1,758 | First U.S. silver dollar; rare in all grades, extremely valuable in Mint State. |
| 1795 Flowing Hair | 160,295 | First widely struck dollar; popular as a type coin. |
| 1796 Draped Bust, Small Eagle | 79,920 | Scarce; often collected alongside 1797 as short type run. |
| 1797 Draped Bust, Small Eagle | 7,776 | Very low mintage; prized key date. |
| 1798 Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle | 327,536 | First year of Heraldic Eagle reverse; many die varieties. |
| 1804 Draped Bust | 15 (restrikes) | Famous “King of American Coins.” Originals struck in 1834 as diplomatic gifts; worth millions. |
| 1836 Gobrecht Dollar | ~1,000 | First U.S. Mint seated dollar; usually seen as proofs, highly desirable. |
| 1839 Gobrecht Dollar | ~300 | Extremely rare; sought after as a transitional issue before Liberty Seated Dollars. |
Collectibility
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Flowing Hair Dollars are among the most coveted early U.S. coins, often six-figure pieces.
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Draped Bust Dollars offer a rich field of die varieties for specialists, with common dates available to type collectors.
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1804 Dollar stands as the ultimate rarity, known as the “King of American Coins.”
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Gobrecht Dollars connect early dollars to the later Liberty Seated series, making them important type coins.
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Even common dates are scarce compared to Morgan or Peace dollars, making early silver dollars a challenging yet rewarding area.