1804 US Silver Dollar

The 1804 US Silver Dollar is much storied coin. One of the rarest coins in the world, there's much that fascinates the numismatists, as well the others. First of all, it's not minted in 1804. Although US Mint records indicated a delivery of 19,570 silver dollars in 1804, it's believed that those coins were dated 1803 and brought forward to the following year. Secondly, the 1804 silver dollar was not minted for circulation. Today, there are only 15 known specimens in existence.

In 1834, the US Mint struck eight 1804 silver dollars (Class I specimens) upon an order issued by the US State Department. Seven of these coins were to be presented as gifts to several rulers in Asia for the purpose of fostering better trade relations. The US Mint kept one specimen in its Coin Collection.

Entrusted with the mission to spread American goodwill, US Ambassador Edmund Roberts set sail for Asia and successfully presented the 1804 Silver Dollar to the King of Siam, Rama III and the Iman of Muscat, Said bin Sultan. In return, the Iman donated a pair of fine Muscat lion and lioness to the Washington Zoo. However, Roberts passed away during his voyage and the other five coins were not presented to the intended recipients. Some years later, the succeeding King of Siam, Rama IV, in turn, presented the 1804 Silver Dollar as a gift to Anna Leonowens, the subject of the book Anna and the King of Siam and the movie The King and I. 

Class II and Class III specimens were the work on an unscrupulous US Mint employee by the name of Theodore Eckfeldt. From 1858 to 1860, Eckfeldt secretly minted a number of 1804 silver dollars and sold them to coin collectors in Philadelphia. When it became known, Mint Director James Ross Snowden ordered the return of all illegal 1804 silver dollars. Supposedly, all Class II coins were retrieved. The only known Class II specimen is being displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. Unlike the Class II specimen which has a plain edge, the Class III has a lettered edge just like the Class I. However, the Class III specimen has a rust pit somewhere on the reverse where the Class I has none. Today, there are six known Class III specimens in existence.

In 2001, the "King of Coins", the "Brilliant Gem Proof", the 1804 US Silver Dollar from the King of Siam collection was auctioned for USD 4.14 million. Since the price of silver has risen, it may fetch much more today. Do you have some silver you want to sell? Now is a great time to sell silver because you can get top dollar for silver. Contact this silver buyer and get instant cash for silver!