1803 Early $1 (1803 Early Silver Dollar) PCGS VF25. Small 3, BB-254, B-4. PQ, This early date, 1803 Silver Dollar is graded VF25 by PCGS in an OGH (old, green holder), but the coin meets the criteria for an XF grade. All the lines in the drapery on Libertys bust show clearly. Her hair is well outlined and detailed. The coin is also well struck on the obverse. Many of the stars have full details as do the highest points of the hair. On the reverse, the shield is well struck as are some of the stars and the clouds. Although planchet adjustment marks are often seen on coins of this type, none are found on this specimen.

The 1803 dollar was the last one made in the early nineteenth century. It was heavily melted and exported for bullion because of its weight and sliver content. So production was halted other than the famous 1804 dollar, which was made much later. Although it was reported that 19,570 1804 dollars were made, no original one has ever been found. It is widely assumed that the 19,570 dollars had earlier dates, probably 1801, 1802, and 1803. The Red Book, A Guide Book of United States Coins, by R.S. Yeoman, gives the mintage for 1803 as 85,634. Evidently he added the 1804 mintage to the 66,044 reported by the Mint. David Bowers estimates the mintage at 60,000 in his book Silver Dollars and Trade Dollars of the United States.
There are two varieties of 1803, those with Large 3 and Small 3. The present coin is the latter variety. There are four subdivisions of the Small 3 variety and one of the Large 3.