1803 Silver Dollar - 1803 Early S$1 Large 3 PCGS VF20 CAC. BB-255. This early date 1803 silver dollar has strong drapery lines and, for the grade, extremely clean and original surfaces. The coin shows wear, in keeping with the grade which is confirmed by its CAC sticker. Its presence indicates that the piece is of premium quality and fully disserves the grade assigned. The coin is lightly toned with shades of silver-gray, light lavender, gold, teal, and tan. Scuff marks on the centers of both sides and a scratch through the shield to the rim are on the holder not the coin.

The BB-255 is the only 1803 silver dollar with a Large 3 in the date. The 180 are wide, and the 3 is lower at its base. The top of the numeral is thick. The reverse, first used in 1801, has the upper part of the eagles beak touching a point of Star 12. The first A in AMERICA touches the third feather and is connected to the fourth feather. The leaf points to the left base of the I in AMERICA.

The Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle silver 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 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 July 2012, CAC has confirmed 3 1803 Large 3 silver dollars in VF20 condition with 24 better.