Owner Comments:
According to mint records the first United States Mint delivered its last silver dollar in 1805. Those coins were undoubtedly dated 1803. For more than three decades the mint did not issue any silver dollars despite the fact that the dollar was the flagship coin in our nation’s monetary system. In 1834, the mint made a small number of silver dollars that were dated 1804. Those pieces were made for presentation and diplomatic purposes, however, not for general circulation.
Finally, in 1836, the mint turned its attention to making a silver dollar for circulation. Chief Mint Engraver, Christian Gobrecht, designed the coins. A total of 1,000 pieces was issued in 1836 and an additional 600 pieces, still bearing the 1836 date, were issued in 1837.
The two issues can be distinguished by the orientation of the obverse and reverse dies. The 1836 coins have the “coin turn” (coin is flipped on its horizontal axis) with the eagle flying “onward and upward.” The 1837 were made using the “medal turn” with the piece flipped on its vertical axis. In this case the eagle is flying “onward and upward” or perhaps horizontally. Opinions differ. In later years, more restrike pieces were made in unknown quantities. These coins were made for circulation because there are many pieces extant with worn surfaces.
I was very happy to find the coin pictured above. It is one of the 1,000 pieces struck with the “coin turn” and the eagle flying “onward and upward.” The coin is very attractive although it does have a dullish spot in the right obverse field which probably accounts for the PR-62 grade.