Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States - A Complete Encyclopedia

Class III 1804 Dollar. BB-306

• OBVERSE: As preceding.
Obverse die used to strike Class I, II, and III 1804 dollars.

• REVERSE: As preceding. See description under 1804 Class II dollar.
"Reverse Y" die used to strike Class II and III 1804 novo del silver dollars.

• NOTES:
The obverse and reverse of the 1804 Class III dollars are as Class II. However, Class III dollars have lettered edges. The edge was lettered after the coins were struck. Probably struck circa 1858, with edges lettered years later, sometime in the late 1860s or, more likely, circa 1875.

The dies were in the Mint until at least the late 1860s or early 1870s. The die orientation of the Class II and Class III 1804 dollars is identical-the 0 in the date is opposite in the dies to the second T in STATES-and is unlike the normal 180° orientation of the Class I dollars. This would seem to indicate that Class II and Class III dollars were struck at the same time, and this was c. 1858. (A view held strongly by Kenneth E. Bressett. Letter to the author, December 12, 1992. )

• DIE STATES:
Die State I: Du Pont specimen (on loan to the ANA; from photograph furnished by ANA Museum Curator Robert Hoge): Obverse: With hairline crack beginning to the left of the top of L in LIBERTY, about 60% of the way toward the nearest upper point of star 7, and in line with the top of the L, extending through LIBER, to top of the left upper serif of T, then at a slight angle toward the border, ending above the junction of the upright of T and its left arm; this crack being that seen on Die State III of the Class I 1804 dollars; PLUS additional crack beginning at left side of top serif of L, just below the crack just described, and continuing left to touch the outermost point of star 7, continuing to and ending at the outermost point of star 6. Reverse: Die without cracks. Rust spots as follows: at upper left of U in UNITED and in field near it, toward eagle's tail; to lower left of star below cloud 7; between tops of letters 0 and F in OF. Bebee specimen (also on loan to the ANA; from photograph furnished by Robert Hoge): Die states similar to preceding, except later obverse die break possibly not as advanced toward the left (photograph and/or surface of coin not sharp enough for positive comparison). Obverse and reverse rims of both coins have been filed down. The obverse of the du Pont coin is slightly doubled, from striking.

• COLLECTING NOTES: There are only six specimens known of the Class III dollar. Interestingly, all except the du Pont coin have come on the market in recent decades, some specimens several times.

Unlike the 1804 Class I dollars, most of which have some Proof surface remaining, the majority of Class III dollars show evidence of "circulation." It is believed that this wear was given to the coins by Mint officials and/or their agents, in an effort to further the illusion that such coins were once, used in the channels of commerce. Exceptions are provided by the Linderman and Idler specimens, which retain Proof finish.

• REGISTRY OF KNOWN SPECIMENS: The registry of Class III 1804 dollars (novodels with lettered edge) follows. All are pictured in Newman-Bressett (1962) and, in many instances, in the auction catalogues mentioned.