Numismatic

1798 Draped Bust Dollar Heraldic Eagle XF-40 PCGS

---

In the final years of the eighteenth century, the young United States mint in Philadelphia produced this silver dollar. Dated 1798, the coin belongs to the celebrated Draped Bust series, representing an era when the nation was actively defining its visual identity through its coinage. This particular specimen survived the centuries to be certified in Extremely Fine 40 condition, preserving a remarkable amount of detail from the original strike. The obverse features the elegant Draped Bust portrait of Liberty, her hair flowing back, accompanied by the date 1798. On the reverse, the design showcases the Heraldic Eagle, a powerful early American symbol holding a shield, an olive branch, and a bundle of arrows. The Latin motto UNUM is clearly visible on the reverse, alongside the surrounding inscriptions STATES, OF, and AMERICA. Struck from 0.8924 fine silver with a total silver content of 0.7738 troy ounces, this coin represents a total mintage of 327,536 pieces. Because the Philadelphia Mint did not use mint marks at this time, the coin is identified solely by its design and date, offering a direct window into the early operations of the United States Mint.