Scot’s Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle Silver Dollar 1798-1804. The Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle sliver dollar was made from 1798 to 1804. The design shows a draped bust of Liberty in profile facing right. Above is LIBERTY, and below is the date. Seven six-pointed stars are to the left and six are to the right. The portrait on the obverse of the Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle silver dollar, taken from a drawing by the famous artist Gilbert Stuart, is of Ann Bingham. John Eckstein translated this drawing to models for Engraver Robert Scot. Evidently Eckstein made the models poorly, which might explain why Stuart’s family refused to acknowledge his role in the coinage design. The heraldic eagle reverse shows the eagle with up stretched wings and a Union shield on its breast. A banner inscribed E PLURIBUS UNUM curls across the left wing and under the right. Except for the wing tips, the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is in an arc near the periphery. Thirteen stars are above the eagle’s head under the clouds in an arc pattern. Dentils are near the edge on both sides of the Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle silver dollar coin. The edge is lettered HUNDRED CENTS ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT with ornamentation between the words.

In what some have called colossal design blunder, Robert Scot placed the arrows in the wrong talon. On the left side, the eagle’s right talon, arrows symbolize aggressive militarism. They should have been placed in the left talon with the olive branch in the right. If this rearrangement was unintentional, it shows a new, inexperienced country that can’t even get its symbolism correct. If this was a deliberate rearrangement, it shows a young country taking an aggressive stance during a time of conflict. In 1799 the country was engaged with France in an undeclared naval war. Perhaps this symbolism was being used to make a statement to France and others about the sovereignty of the United States.

Thomas Jefferson chose Robert Scot to be the first Chief Engraver of the United States Mint on November 23, 1793. During the Revolution, he had been an engraver of paper money. His ability to make dies was limited, and he was advanced in years with failing eyesight. His work was poorer in quality than that done in Europe at the time, and Scot was criticized for it.

The Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle sliver dollar has several varieties, restrike proof rarities, and one famous, extreme rarity, the 1804 Silver Dollar. Red Book varieties include for 1798 Knob 9 with 4 and 5 Vertical Lines; Knob 9 with 10 Arrows; Pointed 9 with Close and Wide Date; Pointed 9 with 5 Vertical Lines; Pointed 9 with 10 Arrows; and Pointed 9 with 4 Berries. The two earliest reverse dies have 5 Vertical Lines in the shield. Afterwards they all have 4 Vertical Lines. The next year, 1799, had overdates with 15 and 13 Star reverses; Irregular Dates with 15 and 13 Star reverses; a normal date, and an obverse with 8 Stars Left and 5 Right. The varieties of 1800 include a Very Wide Date with a Low 8; a “Dotted Date,” which was the result of die breaks; a reverse with Only 12 Arrows; and an inscription AMERICAI, which researchers speculate resulted from a stray punch or piece of metal struck into the die. Two overdates were seen in 1802, Narrow and Wide Dates; there was a Narrow Normal Date; and a Wide Normal Date. The last regular mintage was in 1803. That year had Small and Large 3’s in the date. The 1804 dollar was made from new dies in 1834 as a presentation piece. In 1859 additional pieces were struck. They were made in proof format. Between 1858 and the 1870’s, proof dollars were struck with the dates 1801, 1802, and 1803. These were sold secretly in the numismatic market. They are known as “Proof restrikes” and all are rare.

Specifications:
Weight: 26.96 grams
Composition: .8924 silver, .1076 copper
Diameter: 39-40 millimeters
Edge: Lettered HUNDRED CENTS ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT with decorative design between words.