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1804 Draped Bust Dollar, Class I -- the "King of American Coins" and its $7.68 million sale.
Despite carrying the date "1804," no dollars were actually struck for circulation that year -- Mint records showing a 19,570-coin 1804 mintage almost certainly reflect coins dated 1803 struck with leftover dies. The dollars known today were produced decades later, beginning as diplomatic gifts assembled around 1834-35 for presentation sets, including one delivered to the Sultan of Muscat in 1835.
Called "The King of American Coins" by dealer B. Max Mehl in 1941, a title the coin still holds. This specific specimen -- graded Proof-68 by PCGS, the finest of the 8 known Class I examples -- sold for $7.68 million on August 17, 2021, at Stack's Bowers Galleries, having previously sold for a then-record $4.14 million in 1999.
Other dates and varieties in this series
What to check before you pay, specific to this date and its 8-coin mintage.
Two examples of this date can be worth very different amounts depending on wear. Work out where an example sits on the range above before deciding whether its asking price is fair, and ask the seller for more photos if the wear points aren't clear.
Grading fees would eat much of what this coin is worth, so raw examples are normal here and nothing to be wary of. Judge it on clear photos of both sides and the seller's track record instead.
Every Flowing Hair / Draped Bust Dollar listed here is priced by an individual seller, so the same coin in the same grade can differ by a wide margin on any given day. Sort by price, check Metal Points and order history for a sense of the seller's record, and message them if the photos don't show enough to grade confidently.
About the 1804 Flowing Hair / Draped Bust Dollar
A typical circulated example brings around —, with uncirculated examples ranging from — to —.
Despite carrying the date "1804," no dollars were actually struck for circulation that year -- Mint records showing a 19,570-coin 1804 mintage almost certainly reflect coins dated 1803 struck with leftover dies. The dollars known today were produced decades later, beginning as diplomatic gifts assembled around 1834-35 for presentation sets, including one delivered to the Sultan of Muscat in 1835.
For anything you believe is a key date or an error, professional grading protects both buyer and seller by settling condition and authenticity before money changes hands.
The rest of the series, with what each is worth at the top of the grade scale.
List it free on PeerMetals — flat 2.75% seller fee, zero listing fees, 1–3 day payouts.
