1795 Draped Bust Dollar Value & Price Guide

The Draped Bust Dollar series began in 1795 as the second major design for the United States silver dollar. Robert Scot, the first Chief Engraver of the United States Mint, designed the coin to replace the Flowing Hair dollar. President George Washington and Mint Director David Rittenhouse requested a more refined look for the young nation's currency. The obverse features Liberty with her hair tied back by a ribbon, while the reverse shows an eagle surrounded by a wreath. The series underwent two main design shifts during its run. The Small Eagle reverse appeared from 1795 to 1798. The Heraldic Eagle reverse replaced it in 1798 and remained until the series ended in 1803. The Mint stopped production of silver dollars entirely in 1804 due to heavy exportation and bullion hoarding by merchants. While the Mint struck 1804-dated dollars later for diplomatic gifts, no silver dollars were produced for general circulation between 1804 and 1836.

Start your collection with the 1798 or 1799 Heraldic Eagle dates, as these are the most available years in the series. Focus on finding coins with original, problem-free surfaces because many early dollars suffered from harsh cleanings or heavy wear. Look for signs of tooling or smoothed-out scratches, which are common issues on these high-value pieces. Always buy certified coins from reputable grading services to avoid the many high-quality counterfeits that plague the early dollar market.