1796 $1 Large Date, Sm Let Draped Bust Dollar PCGS VF30

Offered here is a scarce early Federal silver dollar, the 1796 $1 Draped Bust Dollar, Small Date, Small Letters, certified PCGS VF30. Struck at the Philadelphia Mint during the formative years of the United States coinage system, this historic one-year type represents the young nation’s first regular-issue silver dollar design and remains a cornerstone issue for both Draped Bust specialists and advanced type collectors. Coin details Date/Type: 1796 Draped Bust Dollar Mint: Philadelphia Variety: Small Date, Small Letters Grade: PCGS VF30 PCGS Certification Number: 1553761 Historical and variety significance The entire 1796 silver dollar mintage is divided into three major varieties: 1) Small Date, Small Letters; 2) Small Date, Large Letters; and 3) Large Date, Small Letters. The date-size difference is most obvious when coins are compared side-by-side, while the reverse lettering size is typically more dramatic and easier to confirm. Within these major groups, collectors will find one or more die varieties, adding further depth and challenge to attribution and set building. According to the PCGS Population Report, the Small Date, Small Letters is the most frequently encountered of the three major varieties, yet it remains an important and highly collectible early dollar with persistent demand. Certified scarcity (PCGS Population) PCGS Population in VF30: 38 PCGS Population higher: 148 PCGS Coin Number: 79920 Collecting appeal in VF30 In Very Fine condition, the 1796 Draped Bust Dollar offers an ideal balance of affordability, originality, and historical presence. The design elements remain clearly defined for the grade, with the kind of honest circulation wear expected of an 18th-century silver dollar that actually saw commerce. This is a compelling opportunity to acquire a major early U.S. type coin and a classic Philadelphia issue with enduring numismatic relevance. A noteworthy benchmark for the variety is that the PCGS Condition Census for the 1796 Small Date, Small Letters ranges from AU55 to AU58, with none in Mint State, and the finest PCGS-certified examples include four coins at the AU58 level—underscoring how elusive truly high-grade survivors are for this early dollar.