1798 $1 Small Eagle 13 Stars Draped Bust Dollar PCGS VF25

A pleasing, certified 1798 Draped Bust Dollar of the popular Small Eagle type, offering honest Very Fine detail and notably attractive peripheral toning. Struck at Philadelphia, this 1798 Silver Dollar represents the celebrated Draped Bust, Small Eagle design with 13 obverse stars. The obverse features Liberty facing right, her hair tied with a ribbon, surrounded by the inscription LIBERTY above and the date 1798 below. Thirteen stars encircle the portrait, acknowledging the original states. The reverse displays the small heraldic eagle standing within an open wreath, accompanied by the surrounding legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. As a first-generation federal dollar, the type carries all the charm and historic importance expected of the earliest U.S. silver coinage. Certified PCGS VF25, this example shows solid mid-grade definition for the issue. Liberty’s portrait remains well outlined, with the major hair waves and drapery lines still visible, while the reverse retains clear wreath detail and a distinct central eagle. The surfaces are evenly worn in the manner expected for the grade, with no major distractions, and the coin benefits from warm silver-gray color accented by vivid blue, violet, and russet toning around the borders. That peripheral coloration frames both sides beautifully and gives the piece a more memorable appearance than many circulated early dollars encountered in the marketplace. The 1798 Small Eagle dollar occupies a special place in early American numismatics. The Draped Bust dollar series has long stood among the most collected and admired of all United States types, combining large format silver, short-lived early designs, and direct connection to the formative years of the federal mint. The Small Eagle reverse, used only briefly before the adoption of the Heraldic Eagle reverse, is especially coveted as a distinct and historic subtype. Collectors pursuing early type coins, Draped Bust dollars by date, or representative examples of 18th-century American coinage consistently seek pieces such as this. With a reported mintage of 30,000 pieces, the issue is elusive in all grades and becomes increasingly desirable when found as a problem-free, certified example with appealing natural color. PCGS reports a population of just 41 coins in VF25, with 151 finer, underscoring the limited number available at this exact grade level. While not a condition rarity in the absolute sense, it is a scarce and always in-demand early dollar that enjoys enduring market support from both type collectors and specialists in early federal silver. An attractive and historically important 1798 Draped Bust Small Eagle Dollar, certified and eminently collectible, ideal for the advanced type set or an early dollar cabinet.