1799

The 1799 Draped Bust Dollar carries the largest annual mintage of the entire Draped Bust Dollar series at 423,515 pieces struck at the Philadelphia Mint, more than the 1798 and 1800-1803 production figures and far above the 1795-1797 early-Draped-Bust years. The 1799 carries the standard Heraldic Eagle reverse with the shield, arrows, olive branch, and banner that defines the post-1798 Draped Bust era, and 13 obverse stars representing the original colonies. 1799 also marks the year of George Washington's death (December 14, 1799), giving the date additional historical weight beyond its numismatic significance.

Strike quality on the 1799 is generally above average for the date, with Liberty's hair detail, the eagle's central feathers, and the shield-and-banner reverse coming up cleanly on most early-die-state coins. Most surviving 1799 examples grade VG to VF from heavy circulation in the early 1800s, with PCGS, the Professional Coin Grading Service, and NGC populations clustering at F and VF. Survival is estimated at 8,000 to 10,000 across all grades, making the 1799 the most available Draped Bust Dollar in circulated grades. Die marriages are catalogued by the Bowers-Borckardt (BB) attribution system, with BB-163 and BB-166 as the two most plentiful 1799 die marriages.

The 1799 is a regular common date and the standard recommendation for collectors targeting a single Heraldic Eagle Draped Bust Dollar in circulated grades. Pricing trades at the lowest level of the Draped Bust series at most grades, reflecting the abundant survival from the peak-mintage year. The Eric P. Newman Specimen graded MS66 sold for $822,500 at Heritage in November 2013, establishing the modern auction record; PCGS Mint State populations top out at MS66 with three documented examples. The 1799 pairs with the 1798 Heraldic Eagle and 1800 as the matched core Heraldic Eagle Draped Bust trio. Authentication concerns center on cleaning, polishing, edge damage, and counterfeit detection; certified slabs from PCGS or NGC are the standard purchase route at higher grades. For the Washington-era context and the broader Draped Bust production history, see the Draped Bust Dollar series history.