1796 Draped Bust Silver Dollar Centered Bust PCGS

About This Coin

The 1796 Draped Bust Silver Dollar with the Centered Bust variety is one of the most historically significant early American coins. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint in the first full year of the Draped Bust dollar series, this coin represents the transition from the earlier Flowing Hair design to the more classical depiction of Liberty. The "Centered Bust" variety refers to the positioning of Liberty's bust on the obverse, which is centered rather than shifted to the left — a detail that distinguishes it from the "Small Bust" variety and makes it particularly sought after by series specialists.

This specific specimen, graded PCGS VF-30 (Very Fine), displays strong hair detail and a clear, well-struck Liberty portrait. The reverse eagle retains visible feather definition, and the legends remain fully legible. At the VF-30 grade level, this coin offers an excellent balance of eye appeal and value — it shows honest, original circulation wear without any cleaning, damage, or porosity. The surfaces are an attractive medium gray with subtle original toning around the periphery, consistent with a coin that has been carefully stored for over two centuries.

The 1796 Draped Bust Silver Dollar is a key-date coin in the early dollar series, with a mintage of only 72,920 pieces across both varieties. Far fewer survive today in collectible condition. The Centered Bust variety (Bolender-1, Bowers-Borja-Kirkpatrick-2) is the scarcer of the two varieties. At $8,000, this coin represents a strong value for the grade and variety — comparable examples at major auctions have realized $9,000–$12,000 in recent years. It would make an excellent addition to a type set, early dollar collection, or as a standalone investment piece in early American numismatics.