1804 Silver Dollar Value Checker: Errors List & No Mint Mark Worth

1804 Silver Dollar value ranges from $1.00 face value to $7,680,000. That record was set by a PR68 Class I Original sold at Stack’s Bowers in August 2021 — the single finest known example of this date, often called the “King of American Coins.” If yours has been tucked away in a collection, upload a photo below for a quick value range. You can also scroll down to check recent eBay sales and see what the current market looks like.

 

1804 Silver Dollar Value By Variety

The 1804 Silver Dollar is divided into three distinct classes — Class I, Class II, and Class III, each carrying its own unique story and collector significance. If you know the grade of your coin, you can find the exact price below in the Value Guides section.

Also Read: Top 100 Rarest Silver Dollar Coins Worth Money (Most Expensive)

 

Top 7 Most Valuable 1804 Silver Dollar Worth Money

When it comes to rare American coinage, few coins have commanded auction results quite like the 1804 Silver Dollar. The data spanning from 2000 to the present tells a clear and compelling story about just how valuable these coins have become.

At the very top sits the 1804 Original Class I graded PR 68 — the finest known example — which realized an astonishing $7,680,000 at auction. This single result alone cements the 1804 dollar’s reputation as one of the most valuable coins ever sold in American numismatic history.

Class I Originals consistently dominate the upper end of the market, while Class III Restrikes, though slightly less prestigious, have still achieved multi-million dollar results in high grades. The 1804 Restrike Class III PR 65, for example, reached $6,000,000, proving that even the “secondary” variants of this coin are extraordinarily sought after.

What this data makes clear is simple: grade matters enormously. The higher the Proof grade, the more dramatically the value climbs — making condition the single most critical factor when evaluating any 1804 Silver Dollar.

 

History of the 1804 Silver Dollar

The story of the 1804 Silver Dollar is one of the most fascinating chapters in American numismatic history — a coin bearing the date 1804 that was never actually struck in that year, with all known examples produced in the 1830s or later.

The story truly begins in 1834 during President Andrew Jackson’s administration, when the State Department ordered special sets of coins to be used as diplomatic gifts for the King of Siam and the Sultan of what is now Oman. Diplomat Edmund Roberts, appointed as the United States’ first envoy to the Far East, reported that the gifts previously offered to foreign rulers were inadequate — prompting the creation of these extraordinary presentation sets.

A critical oversight shaped the coin’s identity forever: officials at the time were unaware that no silver dollars had technically been dated 1804, as the original coins minted that year still carried the 1803 date on their face. The U.S. Mint, under Chief Coiner Adam Eckfeldt, used what is believed to have been an unused obverse die from 1803, paired with a new reverse die, to strike the first 1804-dated silver dollars.

Decades later, in 1858, Mint employee Theodore Eckfeldt produced a second wave of restrikes on the sly — coins intended for eager collectors rather than diplomatic purposes, and struck without official authorization. Numismatists first became aware of the 1804 dollar’s existence in 1842, when an illustration of one example appeared in a publication authored by two Mint employees — sparking a fascination that has never faded.

Since the first resale of an 1804 dollar in 1867, the coin has routinely ranked as one of the most valuable pieces of currency ever sold at auction — a legacy built not just on rarity, but on a history as complex and layered as America itself.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Morgan Silver Dollar Coins Worth Money List

 

Is Your 1804 Silver Dollar Rare?

Wondering whether your 1804 Silver Dollar is one of the rare survivors? Use the Coin Identifier and Value App to instantly look up your coin’s class, grade, and rarity status — all in one place.

 

Key Features of the 1804 Silver Dollar

Beyond its legendary rarity, the 1804 Silver Dollar is a coin of remarkable design and craftsmanship. Understanding its physical features — from the obverse portrait to the edge inscription — is essential for any collector looking to identify and evaluate a genuine example.

The Obverse of the 1804 Silver Dollar

The obverse design features Liberty facing right with flowing hair, surrounded by 13 stars, with the date 1804 appearing below the bust. Counting carefully, seven stars appear on the left side of the coin and six on the right.

The coin was designed by engraver Robert Scot and struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The word “LIBERTY” is inscribed prominently above the bust, completing the iconic Draped Bust design that defines this series.

The Reverse of the 1804 Silver Dollar

The reverse centers on a bold Heraldic Eagle with wings spread wide — its left talon gripping an olive branch as a symbol of peace, while the right holds a quiver of arrows representing strength, with a shield displayed on the eagle’s chest. The inscription “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” runs along the border, framing the design with national authority.

A key diagnostic difference exists between classes on the reverse — Class I features the words “STATES” and “OF” spaced more closely together, while Class II and III show notably wider spacing — a subtle but critical detail for authenticating any specimen.

Other Features of the 1804 Silver Dollar

The edge of the coin is one of the most reliable ways to identify which class you are dealing with — a plain, smooth edge immediately identifies Class II, while Class I and III both carry lettered edges. Class I specimens display crushed lettering on the edge, whereas Class III coins show sharp, post-strike lettering — a distinction that reflects the different production methods used for each.

The physical specifications are equally important for authentication — a genuine coin weighs 26.96 grams, measures 40mm in diameter, and carries a silver composition of 89.24%. Any deviation from these measurements is a strong indicator that the coin may not be genuine.

Also Read: Top 80+ Most Valuable Sacagawea Dollar Worth Money (2000-P to Present)

 

The Easy Way to Know Your 1804 Silver Dollar Value

The first step to estimating your coin’s value is identifying which class it belongs to — Class I, II, or III — as each carries a very different price range. Genuine examples have sold for anywhere between $2.3 million and over $7.6 million at auction, depending on class and grade.

Beyond class, condition is everything. Checking key physical details — such as the coin’s weight, diameter, and edge inscription — can give you an important first indication of what you’re dealing with.

For the quickest and most reliable starting point, download the Coin Identifier and Value App to look up your coin’s class, compare grade-based values, and get a clearer picture of what your 1804 Silver Dollar may truly be worth.

 

1804 Silver Dollar Mintage & Survival Data

The mintage figures for the 1804 Silver Dollar are remarkably small, even by the standards of rare American coinage. Across all three classes, only 22 coins were ever produced — making this one of the most limited issues in U.S. numismatic history.

Class I leads with 8 coins minted, and remarkably, all 8 are still accounted for today — giving it a 100% survival rate. This is an extraordinary fact, as most coins from this era suffered significant losses to melting, damage, or simply disappearing over time.

Class III shares a similar story, with all 7 of its known examples surviving to this day. Class II, however, remains a mystery — while 7 coins are believed to have been produced, their survival rate is entirely unknown, adding yet another layer of intrigue to this already legendary series.

What makes this data so significant is what it tells collectors about availability. With a combined known population of just 15 confirmed survivors, the chance of an 1804 Silver Dollar ever appearing on the open market is exceptionally rare — a reality that continues to drive its extraordinary value at auction.

Also Read: Top 40+ Most Valuable Presidential Dollar Coins Worth Money

 

1804 Silver Dollar Value Guide

There are rarer coins in American numismatics, but none that challenge the fame, tradition, and prestige of the 1804 Silver Dollar. What makes this series especially compelling is that its value varies dramatically depending on which of the three classes you’re dealing with — each carrying its own unique origin story, rarity level, and market position.

Here’s a breakdown of what each class represents:

• 1804 Class I Silver Dollar Value — The original diplomatic presentation pieces, struck in 1834–35, and the most valuable of all three classes
• 1804 Class II Silver Dollar Value — A single known example, struck over a foreign coin, permanently housed at the Smithsonian and considered priceless
• 1804 Class III Silver Dollar Value — Unauthorized restrikes produced in the late 1850s, with only 7 known examples, each worth $2 million or more

 

1804 Class I Silver Dollar Value

The Class I 1804 Silver Dollar — known as the “Original” — holds a place of extraordinary prestige in American numismatics, with its story beginning in 1835 when the first specimen was personally delivered as a diplomatic gift to the Sultan of Muscat. These coins were struck under official government authorization, making them the only examples in the entire 1804 dollar series produced with full institutional sanction.

A key physical diagnostic sets them apart from later restrikes: the edge lettering on Class I coins is visibly “crushed” — the result of a lettered-edge planchet entering a press fitted with a smooth collar, which squeezed and distorted the inscription, rendering many letters unreadable. This production characteristic, impossible to replicate in later unauthorized restrikes, serves as one of the most reliable authentication markers for the Class I series.

The Stickney specimen made history in 1997 as the first 1804 dollar to surpass $1 million at public auction, realizing $1,815,000 — a world record at the time for any coin sold in public competition. The Sultan of Muscat specimen then shattered that record in 1999, bringing $4,140,000 — a figure that stood as a benchmark for years.

That same Sultan of Muscat specimen, graded Proof-68 by PCGS and recognized as the finest known example of the issue, ultimately sold for $7.68 million at Stack’s Bowers Galleries in August 2021 — setting a new auction record and ranking it among the five most valuable United States coins ever sold.

When it comes to documented sales, the Class I auction record speaks for itself — each transaction representing a defining moment in American numismatic history.

As demand for these diplomatic originals has never wavered, the market activity surrounding Class I specimens continues to set the pace for the entire rare coin world.

 

1804 Class II Silver Dollar Value

Of all the coins in American numismatic history, the Class II 1804 Silver Dollar occupies a category entirely its own — it is the only coin in the series that has never been sold, never been graded for market purposes, and never changed hands through public auction. The sole surviving specimen resides permanently in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Numismatic Collection in Washington, D.C., where it has been held since its acquisition by the Mint Cabinet.

This specimen was struck around 1858–59 over a Swiss “shooting thaler” of 1857 — believed to have been an unauthorized experiment carried out by U.S. Mint employees seeking to produce restrikes for the growing collector market. Between 10 and 15 examples were originally produced, but all were tracked down and destroyed by the Mint — except for this single surviving piece.

Its most immediately identifiable feature is a completely plain, smooth edge — entirely devoid of any lettering — setting it apart from every other known 1804 dollar, all of which carry edge inscriptions. Faint traces of the underlying Swiss coin can still be detected beneath the surface, making this one of the most forensically fascinating objects in all of American coinage.

No auction record exists for this coin, as it has never been publicly sold. Should it ever reach the open market, expert consensus suggests it could fetch $10 million or more — a figure that reflects not just rarity, but the absolute impossibility of ever owning another.

It’s worth noting that electrotype copies and replicas of the Class II do occasionally appear on secondary markets like eBay — a $365 sale in 2018 being one such example — and should never be confused with the one genuine specimen held at the Smithsonian.

With a single specimen permanently off the market, the theoretical market activity around the Class II remains one of the most discussed and most speculative topics in all of numismatics.

 

1804 Class III Silver Dollar Value

The Class III 1804 Silver Dollar was born out of deception — the product of what numismatists have come to call the “Midnight Mint,” where unauthorized Mint employees secretly produced restrikes to sell to eager collectors for personal profit. Their existence was not even verified until 1869, when a coin collector rejected one as a restrike — exposing the clandestine operation that had been quietly running inside the Philadelphia Mint.

A key diagnostic feature on the reverse is a small rust pit visible in the field near the olive branch — a flaw absent on Class I originals and one of the most reliable ways to distinguish a Class III restrike from the genuine diplomatic presentation pieces. The spacing between the words “STATES” and “OF” on the reverse is also noticeably wider than on Class I coins — another detail that repays careful examination.

Values for Class III specimens range from $1,800,000 to $4,000,000 depending on grade, making them significantly more accessible than Class I originals — though still among the most valuable coins ever traded in American numismatics.

In 2025, a newly discovered Class III example graded Proof-65 by PCGS — the highest grade ever recorded for a Class III — sold for $6,000,000 at Stack’s Bowers Galleries.

The auction record for Class III restrikes reveals a consistent pattern of escalating prices driven by extreme scarcity and intense collector competition.

For those tracking where serious collector money is moving, the market activity data for Class III specimens offers one of the most compelling windows into the current state of rare coin demand.

Also Read: 17 Rare Dollar Coin Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

 

Rare 1804 Silver Dollar Error List

The 1804 Silver Dollar is already one of the rarest coins in American history — but certain production irregularities and unauthorized striking methods have created an even more extraordinary layer of variety within this legendary series. Understanding these “errors” is essential for any serious collector looking to fully appreciate what sets each known specimen apart.

1. The Class II Overstrike Error

Perhaps the most dramatic production irregularity in the entire series, the Class II 1804 Silver Dollar was struck over an existing coin rather than a freshly prepared planchet — a shortcut taken by unauthorized Mint workers who needed a blank of roughly the correct weight and thickness.

Specifically, Mint employee Theodore Eckfeldt struck the 1804 dies over a modified 1857-dated Swiss Shooting Thaler, originally produced for the Bern Shooting Festival. The result is a coin where faint traces of the original Swiss design can still be detected beneath the surface — a haunting ghost of another coin entirely trapped within one of America’s most famous rarities.

Only one Class II specimen is known to exist today, and it has never been publicly sold — residing permanently in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Numismatic Collection. Experts believe that if it ever reached the open market, it could fetch $10 million or more due to its absolutely unique status.

2. The Class III Concave Edge Lettering Error

The Class III restrikes carry a distinctive production flaw that resulted directly from the deceptive methods used to create them. In an attempt to make these unauthorized coins resemble the original Class I pieces, Mint workers fed already-struck Class III coins through the Castaing machine to add edge lettering after the fact.

This was a fundamental mistake in the minting process. Because edge lettering was supposed to be applied before striking — not after — the Class III coins ended up with a noticeably concave appearance on the edge lettering, a telltale sign that distinguishes them from the genuine Class I originals.

This after-the-fact edge application is now one of the most reliable diagnostic tools for authentication. Class III specimens with confirmed provenance currently trade in the range of several million dollars, with recent auction results exceeding $6,000,000 for the finest known example.

3. The Class II Misaligned Reverse Die Error

A further striking irregularity found on the sole Class II specimen involves a slightly misaligned reverse die — a production flaw noted by numismatists examining the coin in detail, where the “0” in the date aligns directly with the second “T” in STATES rather than sitting in its correct position.

This misalignment is consistent with the clandestine circumstances under which the coin was produced — unauthorized Mint workers operating outside normal production protocols, using improvised planchets and hastily prepared dies. The result is a coin that carries not just historical intrigue, but a measurable technical anomaly baked into its very strike.

Given that this specimen has never come to auction and is held permanently by the Smithsonian, its value remains purely theoretical — though expert consensus places it well above $10 million, making it arguably the single most valuable coin error in American numismatic history.

 

Where to Sell Your 1804 Silver Dollar?

Selling a 1804 Silver Dollar is not a decision to take lightly — this is one of the most valuable and most counterfeited coins in American numismatic history. Working with a reputable, established auction house ensures your coin reaches the right collectors and commands the price it truly deserves.

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

 

1804 Silver Dollar Market Trend

*Market Trend Chart showing the number of people paying attention to this coin.

 

FAQ About The 1804 Silver Dollar

1. Was the 1804 Silver Dollar actually made in 1804?

No, not a single example was struck in the year 1804. The U.S. Mint produced only dollars dated 1803 during that year, then halted silver dollar production entirely.

The coins we know today as “1804 dollars” were actually authorized as special presentation proof sets given as diplomatic gifts overseas, with most numismatists believing they were struck around 1834 or 1835.

2. How many genuine 1804 Silver Dollars exist today?

Only 15 genuine coins were known to exist for many decades, with all originals struck later as diplomatic presentation pieces — not for circulation in 1804.

In 2025, a long-lost example was discovered, bringing the total known count to 16 — a remarkable development that stunned the numismatic world.

3. What are the three classes of the 1804 Silver Dollar?

Class I examples were made circa 1834 and all feature lettered edges with no rust pit near the olive branch on the reverse. Class II and III both share a slightly different reverse design, with wider spacing between the words “STATES” and “OF.”

The easiest way to tell Class II from Class III is by the edge — Class II has a plain, smooth edge with no lettering, while Class III carries a lettered edge.

4. How do I know if my 1804 Silver Dollar is real?

Authentication requires checking several key details: the broken hair curl on Liberty’s forehead, correct reverse die positioning, proper edge treatment, a weight of 26.96 grams, and proof strike characteristics with mirrored fields.

Most importantly, a genuine coin must have documented provenance — without an unbroken chain of ownership connecting it to one of the 16 known specimens, the piece cannot be genuine.

5. How much is the 1804 Silver Dollar worth?

Values range from $1.5 million to over $10 million depending on the class, grade, and provenance of the individual specimen.

Most recently, a previously unknown Class III example sold for $6 million at Stack’s Bowers Galleries in December 2025 — a powerful reminder that these coins continue to set new benchmarks in the rare coin market.

6. Does the 1804 Silver Dollar have a mint mark?

The 1804 Silver Dollar carries no mint mark, as all known examples were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. Instead of looking for a mint mark, collectors should focus on identifying which class the coin belongs to — a far more important factor in determining its value.

7. How do I tell which class my coin belongs to?

Start by checking the coin’s edge first — a plain, smooth edge immediately identifies Class II. Coins with lettered edges then require closer examination of the reverse design to distinguish Class I from Class III.

On the reverse, Class I features the words “STATES” and “OF” spaced more closely together, while Class II and III display notably wider spacing — making this one of the most reliable visual diagnostics.

8. Are there errors on the 1804 Silver Dollar?

Double-struck errors are among the most dramatic varieties — creating overlapping images on both Liberty’s portrait and the eagle on the reverse, with the date and lettering appearing shadowed or duplicated.

If authenticated on a genuine 1804 dollar, such an error could add $500,000 to $1 million or more to the coin’s already multi-million dollar base value.

9. Does cleaning a 1804 Silver Dollar affect its value?

Cleaning is one of the most damaging things you can do to any rare coin — and for an 1804 Silver Dollar, the consequences are especially severe. Cleaning destroys the original surfaces and can reduce value by 50% or more, as collectors strongly prefer original, uncleaned specimens with natural toning.

10. Is a counterfeit 1804 Silver Dollar worth anything?

Most coins labeled as “1804 dollars” encountered in everyday settings are fantasy strikes or replicas — authentic examples are museum-caliber rarities that are never sold casually or cheaply.

A high-quality replica that closely resembles the genuine article may carry some collector appeal, typically valued between $25 and $100 — but it holds no numismatic significance compared to an authenticated original.