Bust Dollar (1794-1804)

Silver Dollars were produced across a timeframe of more than 140 years and are now one of the most popular types of US coins for collectors. Bust Silver Dollars were the first to have ever been minted, and were only produced for a short period of time. This relatively small mintage means that very few of these coins have survived the 200+ year journey to today. Those coins that have survived such a long journey typically survive in sub-par condition at best.

For collectors, the goal is always to find only those coins that have been well-preserved. When it comes to the Bust Silver Dollar, however, that much is not so simple.

What You Will Pay for a Bust Silver Dollar

No matter the condition of the coin, you can expect to pay quite a bit of money for a Bust Silver Dollar. These coins are so inordinately rare that collectors are simply content to get their hands on these pieces. For Silver Dollars that were produced towards the end of the 1800s and into the 1900s, the price you are going to pay will depend much more on the coin’s condition than it does when you are talking about Bust Silver Dollars.

Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred dollars to multiple thousands of dollars for a Bust Silver Dollar. We are talking about coins, so it is important to make it known that while condition may not be the most important aspect of a Bust Silver Dollar, it is something that is always looked at by collectors. If you have a Bust Silver Dollar that is graded to be Uncirculated or Extremely Fine, you can expect to pay no less than $2,000. At times, the price can reach in upwards of $20,000 if the coin is nice enough.

The Most Sought After Bust Silver Dollars

To be blunt, the most sought after Bust Silver Dollar is every Bust Silver Dollar. The reason for this is due to the fact that these coins are so old, were produced in such limited quantities, and are incredibly difficult to come across nowadays. The 1794 Bust Silver Dollar, the first such coin produced, is by far the most sought after version of this coin. These pieces are almost impossible to find and will run you 5 figures even if it is in extremely poor condition.

When it comes down to it, the older the coin is the rarer and more desirable it will be. As the years transition from the 1790s to the early 1800s, you will notice that the average price of the coin decreases. Regardless of year, however, you will notice that the Uncirculated and Extremely Fine varieties of Bust Silver Dollars will consistently cost over $10,000. It is safe to say that the Bust Silver Dollar is typically reserved for those collectors that are very serious about what they do.

Future Value of Bust Silver Dollars

Bust Silver Dollars already have a high price tag, so it is kind of difficult to imagine that these pieces could possibly be any more expensive. The reality of the matter, however, is that the value of these coins has nowhere to go but up. As it stands now, these coins are already incredibly difficult to find and, thus, expensive. As time moves forward, there will only ever be fewer and fewer Bust Silver Dollars on the market, and it is this scarcity that will drive the average asking price upward and only upward.

For this reason and many more, now is the time to act if you want to add one of these coins to your collection. There is no saying how many of these coins will remain on the market 1, 5, or even 10 years from now

Bust Dollars

DATE	GOOD	FINE	EXTREMELY FINE	UNCIRCULATED
1794 Flowing Hair Dollar	$65,000	$115,000	$200,000	$325,000
1795 Flowing Hair Dollar (Two Leaves)	$1,750	$4,350	$13,500	$20,000
1795 Flowing Hair Dollar (Three Leaves)	$1,750	$4,100	$12,000	$19,500
1795 Flowing Hair Dollar (Silver Plug)	$2,800	$8,500	$27,500	$47,500
1795 Draped Bust Dollar (Off Center)	$1,450	$2,150	$10,750	$16,500
1795 Draped Bust Dollar (Centered)	$1,450	$3,500	$10,750	$16,500
1796 Draped Bust Dollar (Small Letters)	$1,550	$3,800	$10,750	$15,000
1796 Draped Bust Dollar (Large Letters)	$1,550	$3,800	$10,750	$15,000
1796 Draped Bust Dollar (Large Date)	$1,550	$3,400	$10,500	$15,000
1797 Draped Bust Dollar (10 Stars)	$1,550	$3,000	$10,000	$14,500
1797 Draped Bust Dollar (9 Stars, Large Letters)	$1,550	$3,100	$10,750	$15,300
1797 Draped Bust Dollar (9 Stars, Small Letters)	$1,800	$3,900	$16,250	$32,500
1798 Draped Bust Dollar (15 Stars)	$1,750	$3,800	$16,000	$24,500
1798 Draped Bust Dollar (13 Stars)	$1,700	$3,500	$15,000	$19,800
1799 Draped Bust Dollar	$1,150	$2,550	$4,700	$8,200
1800 Draped Bust Dollar	$1,100	$2,500	$4,600	$8,100
1801 Draped Bust Dollar	$900	$1,600	$4,900	$8,350
1802 Draped Bust Dollar	$950	$1,700	$4,900	$8,100
1803 Draped Bust Dollar	$1,000	$1,800	$5,000	$9,000
Source: Red Book