1803 Draped Bust Silver Dollar. BB-255, B-6. Rarity-2. Large 3. AU-55 (PCGS).An original and attractive example displaying an even patina of olive-grey shades with gold and powder-blue accents throughout. The strike is uniform and impressively sharp on each side, with strong definition to the stars and on the obverse and the shield lines on the reverse. Smooth and free from notable blemishes, but showing considerable mint luster within the protected areas. The reverse is rotated 20 degrees counterclockwise as is typical. pIn total, 85,634 coins were struck with the 1803 date, including 19,570 actually coined in 1804. Six die varieties are known for the issue, of which only BB-255 and BB-257 bears a large 3 in the date. It is estimated that 1,250 and 2,000 examples of BB-255 remain in numismatic holdings, making it the most available of the die marriages for this year. With the legendary 1804 dollars out of reach for most collectors, 1803 coins have long been desirable among "bookend" collectors seeking the first and last years of a particular design.ppp
