🇺🇸 A Coin from the Dawn of American Minting
Struck just two years after the U.S. Mint opened its doors, the 1795 Off-Center Bust Silver Dollar is a rare survivor from an era of trial and error. With only 10–15 known examples, this coin is a crown jewel for collectors of early federal coinage. Its misaligned design—a quirk of primitive minting technology—turned a simple error into a seven-figure treasure.
🔎 Spotting the Real Deal: Key Features
Designer: Robert Scot, the U.S. Mint’s first Chief Engraver
Obverse: Liberty’s bust shifted left, her hair brushing the 7th star
Reverse: A small eagle wrapped in laurels, surrounded by “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”
Edge: Hand-punched lettering reads “HUNDRED CENTS ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT”
Composition: 89.2% silver, 10.8% copper
Weight: 26.96 grams (0.773 oz of pure silver)
💰 What’s It Worth? 2024 Price Guide
| Grade | Description | Value Range |
|---|---|---|
| Very Fine (VF-20) | Moderate wear, clear details | $100K–$250K |
| Extremely Fine (EF-40) | Light wear, sharp design | $250K–$500K |
| Mint State (MS-65+) | Flawless, original shine | $500K–$1M+ |
Recent Record Sales:
- $705,000 – PCGS MS-66 (2020)
- $1.41 Million – Centered Bust variety in MS-66+ (2022)
⚙️ The Mistake That Made History
The Off-Center Bust wasn’t intentional—it was a production flaw. Early coin presses relied on manual labor, and misaligned dies sometimes slipped through. The Mint fixed the issue quickly, but a handful of these “error coins” entered circulation. Today, their imperfections make them priceless artifacts of America’s numismatic infancy.
🚨 Beware of Fakes! Authentication Checklist
✅ Liberty’s Bust Must Be Visibly Shifted Left (hair near the 7th star)
✅ Raised, Irregular Edge Lettering (hand-applied, not machine-struck)
✅ Correct Weight (26.96g) & Non-Magnetic
✅ Natural Toning & Wear (no signs of modern tooling)
Red Flags:
❌ “Too Perfect” Misalignment (many fakes overdo the shift)
❌ Wrong Star Count (authentic coins have 15 stars for 13 colonies + VT & KY)
📈 Why Collectors Crave This Coin
- Ultimate Bragging Rights: Needed for top-tier Draped Bust collections
- Auction Potential: A pristine MS-65+ could break $1.5M today
- Provenance Matters: Coins tied to famous collections (e.g., Eliasberg, Pogue) sell for premium prices
💼 Selling Your 1795 Dollar? Here’s How
1️⃣ Get It Graded (PCGS/NGC authentication is a must; fees start at $300–$500)
2️⃣ Choose Your Marketplace:
- Auction Houses (Heritage, Stack’s Bowers) for global bidding wars
- Private Sale (best for coins over $1M)
3️⃣ Prove Its History (documented lineage = higher value)
📖 Dive Deeper on PennyVerse.info
- Free Download: “Early U.S. Dollar Collector’s Checklist”
- Expert Help: Post photos in our Forum for free evaluations
#RareCoins #DrapedBust #CoinCollecting
💬 Found a 1795 Dollar? Our community debunks myths & verifies treasures—no hype, just facts.
PennyVerse.info – Trusted by Collectors Since 2010 🏛️✨
Every coin has a story… especially those struck a little “off.”
PS: That “1795 dollar in your junk box”? 99.9% chance it’s fake. But for the 0.1% that’s real? Call PCGS/NGC ASAP—you might be a millionaire! 🏆
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