1803 Silver Dollar - 1803 Early S$1 Large 3 PCGS F15 CAC, BB-255. This eye-appealing 1803 Silver Dollar has light, silver-gray devices against a dark gray background creating an almost cameo effect. In addition to the grays there are shades of blue, green, and gold, more so on the obverse. These colors attest to the coins originality. The fields are remarkable clean for the grade with only a few light abrasion marks visible except for one slightly noticeable on the upper left of the shield. The grade of Fine 15 is confirmed by the CAC sticker, which indicates that the coin is of premium quality and well within the grade range assigned. The coin was struck from rotated dies, a minting error that is not noted on the PCGS holder.

The BB-255 is identified by the Large 3 in the date. The top to the 3 is thick. Star 13 is close to Libertys bust, and Star 1 is distant from it. Stars 1-2 and 5-6 are close to each other, and Stars 4-5 are widely separated. The stars on the right are evenly spaced. In the date, the numerals 180 are widely spaced, and the 3 is lower at the base. There is a small spur at the bottom of the three, which is lightly double punched. The reverse, which was previously used in 1801, has the point of the left arrowhead under the left edge of the left serif of the N in UNITED. Only 12 arrows show clearly. The end of the upper beak touches the Star 12 slightly back from its point. The first A in AMERICA touches the third and fourth feather. A leaf points toward the left side of the I in AMERICA.

The 1803 silver dollar is the second Draped Bust type called the Heraldic Eagle Reverse. It was made from 1798 to 1804. The design shows a draped bust of Liberty 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, 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 Stuarts 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 eagles head under the clouds in an arc pattern. Dentils are near the edge on both sides of the 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 eagles 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 cant 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.

In its population report, as of October 2012, CAC has confirmed 2 Large 3 1803 dollars in F15 condition with 29 better.