 From the time numismatists became aware of 1804 dollars , they have commanded high prices , both in relation to their face value and the numismatic value of other silver dollars . Some early examples were maintained in the Mint 's coin cabinet for use in trades , and in 1859 , dealers began offering Class II dollars priced at $ 75 , while Theodore Eckfeldt reportedly offered a Philadelphia coin dealer three coins for $ 70 each . In 1883 , a Class III dollar was reportedly purchased in Vienna for $ 740 , and a Class I specimen was auctioned for $ 1 @,@ 000 in 1885 by Henry and Samuel H. Chapman . In 1903 , an example sold for $ 1 @,@ 800 , and the same coin reportedly sold for $ 4 @,@ 250 in 1941 . In 1960 , a Class III dollar fetched $ 28 @,@ 000 at an auction conducted by Stack 's , a coin firm , and the same coin reached $ 36 @,@ 000 at another Stack 's sale in 1963 . A Class I specimen brought $ 77 @,@ 500 at a 1970 Stack 's , and during a 1980 rise in coin prices , a Class III example sold for $ 400 @,@ 000 by Bowers and Ruddy Galleries . A Class I example reached $ 990 @,@ 000 at a Superior Galleries auction in 1990 , and an example once owned by coin collector Louis Eliasberg became the first 1804 dollar to surpass $ 1 million at auction , selling for $ 1 @,@ 815 @,@ 000 at a sale conducted by Bowers and <unk> , Inc . , in 1997 . 
