1795–1798: Draped Bust Silver Dollar (Small Eagle Reverse Type)

Draped Bust Dollar Small Eagle history

This first Draped Bust dollar subtype pairs Scot’s Stuart-inspired portrait with a small naturalistic eagle inside a wreath. John Eckstein is associated with the model behind the portrait, making Robert Scot after Gilbert Stuart, with a model associated with John Eckstein, a more complete attribution than naming Scot and Stuart alone.

Dollars struck in calendar-year 1795 are documented at approximately .900 fineness even though the statutory alloy was .8924 silver. Later production returned to the legal standard, so date and actual striking period are relevant to metallurgical discussion.