The silver Gobrecht dollar coins occupy a somewhat strange spot in United States dollar coin history. They were first issued in 1836 ,over thirty years since the last dollar coin was minted (the draped bust dollar, also of silver). In the mid 1830s, though, the U.S. Mint produced a few silver coins with the draped bust design dated 1804, a date which had not been used in that actual year (1803 dies were reused in 1804); these mid-1830s “1804” coins are extremely rare.
At any rate, Christian Gobrecht, who designed the 1836 to 1839 coins, used a seated Liberty design on his new silver coins. Original Gobrecht dollars are dated with their actual years of production.
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Gobrecht dollars were only minted between 1836 and 1839, and 1840 saw the introduction of a redesigned but similar coin known to collectors as the seated Liberty dollar. A few back-dated Gobrecht dollars were minted again in the late 1850s but the reason for this is unclear; these versions are distinguishable by a slightly tilted reverse eagle, and some collectors like them while others do not.
Whatever type of Gobrecht dollars you are looking for, check the current listings. You may also be able to find some nice replica Gobrecht dollars if you’d like to hold one in your hand without paying the premium price of an authentic coin.
