1799 $1 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, BB-163 NGC MS63

A classic numismatic design in a choice mint state grade. This piece has a lot going for it. Despite its large mintage of 423,515, there are not many survivors today. A significant amount of those coins were shipped off to China to compete in the economy with the Spanish Carolus dollars, never to be seen again. An attractive light grey patina adorns both sides of this numismatic treasure. NGC has graded 22 in MS63, with only 24 finer.

The first U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, where this piece was struck in 1799.

Since the production of half dollars was suspended from 1798 to 1800, the Draped Bust dollar series mintages hit a peak during those years. The calendar years of 1799 saw the highest total, however not all coins produced that years carried that date. There was a large number of dies crafted for 1798 dollars, resulting in quite a few leftovers. Therefore much of the output from 1799 may have the previous year's date upon them. Q. David Bowers believes that around 395,000 silver dollars were minted with the 1799 date, with some of those being minted the next year. That was quite an accomplishment when considering the truly primitive conditions at the U.S. Mint.