1796 $1 LG DT SM LT XF45 PCGS CAC

The 1796 Draped Bust Dollar – Large Date, Small Letters is a landmark issue in early American coinage and represents one of the defining silver dollars of the Philadelphia Mint’s formative years. Struck with the Type I Small Eagle reverse, survival estimates suggest that only around 700 coins remain today across all grades—a testament to the attrition that plagued the earliest silver dollars in circulation. This particular example, certified PCGS XF45 and further endorsed by CAC, stands as a premium circulated survivor with originality, balance, and visual appeal that exceed expectations for the grade. The obverse shows an attractive interplay of antique silver-gray fields with rings of russet, golden-bronze, teal, and violet toning encircling LIBERTY and the stars, while Liberty’s portrait is softened by wear yet retains chestnut and violet undertones in the curls and drapery folds. The reverse displays peripheral olive, rose, and subtle emerald accents along UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, framing the Small Eagle and wreath against smooth, naturally aged silver. Strike quality is well above average for the issue, with Liberty’s hair detail and the eagle’s wings still showing sharp definition. Honest, even wear and untouched, problem-free surfaces are further confirmed by CAC approval, which places this coin among the very small subset of true quality survivors. Market demand for this variety remains consistently strong, as evidenced by a NGC CAC-approved realizing $19,200 01/24 HA for a darker but also a toned example, and a lower graded XF40 PCGS CAC realizing $18,000 07/22 HA.