1855-D Type 2 Gold Dollar
There are three types of U.S. gold dollars.(1) They are called:
- Type 1 Coronet (a.k.a. Liberty Head) of 1849-1854
- Type 2 Indian Princess, Small Head of 1854-1856
- Type 3 Indian Princess, Large Head of 1856-1889
The 1855-D is the only representative from the Dahlonega Mint for the short-lived Type 2 series and one of the rarest of all gold dollars, explaining its appeal to gold coin specialists.(2)
Of the 1,811 specimens struck, it is estimated only 80 are extant today, and most of them exhibit an extremely weak 8 in the date and are damaged or impaired, often accompanied by clash marks. (3)(4)
When decades of retail pricing of the 1855-D are charted, it becomes clear this diminutive rarity has its peaks and valleys, but prospective buyers needn’t worry about the numismatic fundamentals undergirding its value. They're solid, explaining why, over time, it just keeps advancing higher and higher.
| Estimated survivors in all grades: 80 ?
The survivor estimate from PCGS represents an average of one or more experts' opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in all grades. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services. Learn more at PCGS. |
| PCGS Rarity Scale: 8.2 ?
The 'PCGS CoinFacts Rarity Scale' assesses the relative rarity of all U.S. coins, based on estimated surviving examples. The scale runs from 1.0 to 10.0. The higher the number, the rarer the coin.
Learn more at PCGS. |
| Click HERE to check for availability on eBay** |
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| Trendline Avg = 13.92 | GOOD |
Historic Value Trend Charts:
| Last updated 7-8-24 |  |
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| Compare to Common Date Coin of Same Type | ||
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Sources
1. Yeoman, R.S. and Garrett, Jeff, et al. A Guide Book of United States Coins, 75th ed. Pelham, AL: Whitman Publishing, 2021.
2. Stack's Bowers Galleries. 1855-D Gold Dollar. Type II. Aug 2023 Auction.
3. PCGS. 1855-D G$1 (Regular Strike).
4. Stack's Bowers Galleries. 1855-D MS-64 (PCGS) (CAC). Jan 2009 Auction.
**Many very fine coin dealers sell on eBay. At any point in time, there may be over one million search results for United States coins. This includes quite a few of the recommendations on our Key Date Coin List.
If you’re thinking about purchasing a rare coin, eBay is certainly worth a look. For your convenience, the links from this site to eBay are coded to bring up only coins certified by PCGS and NGC.
As is always, always the case, never buy a valuable coin from a seller whose trustworthiness cannot be verified. Learn more about this at our chapter Best Places to Buy Coins, which also has a section on doing business on eBay.
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Coin images by Stack's Bowers Galleries.
