1803 Silver Dollar - 1803 S$1 NGC VF35. Large 3, BB-255. This eye-appealing, toned 1803 Silver Dollar is a mixture of tan, gun-metal gray, lavender, and chocolate brown. The surfaces are original as attested to by these colors and, except for a very small dig above Libertys head mentioned only for the sake of accuracy, exceptionally clean for the grade. The lines of Libertys drapery are strong and indicative of a higher grade. The strike is above average with full details on some of the obverse stars, the hair on top of Libertys head, her drapery, and the shield. The motto is fully legible. The images are centered on the planchet, and there are no adjustment marks.

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 Star 12 slightly back from its point. The first A in AMERICA touches the third and fourth feathers. A leaf points toward the left side of the I in AMERICA.

The Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle dollar, designed by Robert Scot, 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. It was based on a drawing of Ann Bingham by the famous artist, Gilbert Stuart. Evidently John Eckstein, the engraver, translated the drawing poorly, which might explain why Stuarts family refused to acknowledge his role in the coinage design. The Type 2 reverse, shows a heraldic eagle. However, Scot mixed up the positions of the arrows and olive branch. The arrows held in the wrong claw signify defiant militarism. Either Scot made an error copying the image of the Great Seal, or he deliberately changed the symbolism in keeping with very warlike stance. Considering that the United States at this time was engaged in a naval war with France (the undeclared Franco-American War of 1798 to 1800, which took place on the East coast of North America and the Caribbean and resulted in the end of French privateer attacks on U.S. shipping), the latter is probably more likely. The French would be especially sensitive to a message within the heraldry, and the young United States was brash in that they had just defeated the super power, England in gaining independence. In the field above the eagle are thirteen stars and above them, an arc of clouds. A banner from wing to wing has the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM.

Scot was born in 1744. It is uncertain if he was born in Edinburgh, Scotland or in England. He was trained as a watchmaker in England and learned engraving afterwards. He moved to the United States in 1777, where he worked as an engraver of plates, bills of exchange, and office scales. During the Revolution, he was an engraver of paper money. In 1781 he moved to Philadelphia. He was appointed Chief Engraver of the United States Mint on November 23, 1793 by David Rittenhouse, Mint Director. His salary in 1795 was $1,200 per year. The Mint Director received only $800 dollars per year more. Scots ability to make dies was limited, and he was advanced in years with failing eyesight. His work was somewhat less than that done in Europe at the time, and Scot was criticized for its poor quality. Despite these limitations, he was responsible for designs of most of Americas first coins. These include the Flowing Hair and the Draped Bust motifs used on early silver coins and the Capped Bust gold coins. Scot also designed the 1794-1797 half-cent, the 1800-1808 draped bust half-cent, and the Thomas Jefferson Indian Peace Medal.

Here is an opportunity to obtain a highly collectible, attractive Draped Bust silver dollar in its original condition. In its population report, NGC shows 12 1803, Large 3, BB-255s in VF with 34 better.