The United States Mint has revealed designs for the next release in its Best of the Mint series — a modern tribute to one of the most storied rarities in American numismatics, the 1804 Dollar. This 2026 offering includes a one-ounce 99.99% fine gold reissue of the famed coin, paired with a companion one-ounce 99.9% fine silver medal. It marks the fourth installment in the program.
Introduced as part of the Mint’s 2026 Semiquincentennial celebration, the Best of the Mint series revisits some of the most celebrated designs in U.S. coinage. Each release features a 24-karat gold coin dated as originally issued and bearing a Liberty Bell privy mark with the number "250," accompanied by a silver medal that reinterprets the theme in modern form.
Earlier announced installments highlight Adolph A. Weinman’s Mercury dime, Hermon A. MacNeil’s Standing Liberty quarter, and Weinman’s Walking Liberty half dollar — each blending historic artistry with contemporary craftsmanship. The newest addition focuses on the famed 1804 Dollar, often described as the "King of American Coins."
Although dated 1804, the first examples of this coin were actually struck three decades later, in 1834, as part of special proof sets created for diplomatic gifts under President Andrew Jackson. Two of those sets were presented to foreign rulers: the King of Siam (modern-day Thailand) and the Sultan of Muscat and Oman. Only eight coins are known from the first striking, using the initial reverse die, and seven more were later struck in the 1850s from a second die. Their limited production and storied journey gave rise to their legendary status among collectors and historians alike.
1804 Dollar Design
The original coin reused the Draped Bust Dollar design last employed in 1803 to strike "1804"-dated dollars. The obverse depicts a draped bust of Liberty facing right, flanked by 13 stars, with long hair bound by a ribbon.
The reverse features a heraldic eagle with raised wings and a United States shield upon its breast. The eagle holds a scroll inscribed with "E PLURIBUS UNUM" in its beak, 13 arrows in its right talon, and an olive branch in its left. Above the eagle are clouds and 13 stars, with the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" encircling the design.
2026 Issuance of 1804 Dollar Gold Coin and Modern Interpretation on Silver Medal
For 2026, it returns as a one-ounce gold coin that faithfully echoes the 1804 Dollar’s historic design, paired with a one-ounce silver medal that draws inspiration from its artistry and symbolic legacy.
The companion silver medal’s obverse depicts Liberty with flowing, ribbon-like hair reminiscent of the Draped Bust design, while arched clouds from the classic reverse reappear as a braided motif — encircling Liberty’s head and the globe, symbolizing the dollar’s international journey and lasting legacy.
Additional details, including mintages, product limits, and release dates, will be announced closer to launch.
2026 Coinage Celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial
As part of the year-long Semiquincentennial observance, circulating U.S. coins in 2026 will feature one-year-only designs honoring the nation’s people, ideals, and evolving story. The lineup includes an updated cent and nickel, unique versions of the dime, half dollar, and five Semiquincentennial quarters themed to the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, Abolition, Suffrage, and Civil Rights. These designs are authorized under the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-330).
Together with the special circulating coinage, the Best of the Mint program forms a central element of the Mint’s 250th anniversary tribute, pairing one-year-only issues with modern reimaginings of historic favorites in gold and silver.
Earlier announced Best of the Mint releases include sets for the Mercury dime, Standing Liberty quarter, and Walking Liberty half dollar, each combining a gold coin (1/10-, 1/4-, and 1/2-ounce, respectively) with a silver medal. Design specifics for the final pairing in the series are expected to be announced in November.
Wow, they got me. Hope it’s ‘doable’ but based on past events ? Au likely $300-400 higher by then. Good job, the medal is quite nice as well!
Nice! We all know what the fifth coin will be. I don’t know that the 1804 silver dollar would be the king of coins. I believe that distinction belongs to the 1933 St. Gaudens Double Eagle, the most valuable coin in the world. See how the pricing turns out.
well it’s hard to be the ‘best of the mint’ if all of the mintage except a couple escapees were melted down. might as well be the 1974 aluminum cent, or maybe 1964 peace dollar, etc. or maybe they should do a program like that next year, ‘forbidden coins of the US mint’.
I like the 1856 Flying Eagle Cent and 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter. I got one right. Maybe next time it’ll be the 1913 Liberty Nickel.
That’s certainly the best-looking medal yet. I’m hoping for proof but I might be a buyer of this set even if it’s uncirculated.
I think that is one set you will definitely need in your collection. Easy for me to say as I don’t have to buy every single proof Au coin! Lol.
Yesterday(10/5/25) at 10:25am there were 2,390, 2025 LESPS Subscriptions left. This evening at 12:00am(midnight)ET, there were just 1,102 subscriptions left. The remaining subscriptions will sellout well before the Nov 6 drop. FYI a reminder to make sure your CC on file with the U.S. Mint is not set to expire and have your CVC code memorized or available. With the 2025 ASE with Navy Privy release coming up on Friday these will be gone after 4-5 hours maximum. If you have a hang up with your CC, this may cause a glitch, where the system thinks you’ve already ordered your… Read more »
Thank you. For all the reasons you gave, I subscribed to this set. It may also be the lowest production of LESPS since its inception. If something happens, I already have a silver AWQ proof set and an S proof ASE. I’m looking at the investment potential of this set in the future.
Glad you appreciate the info Antonio and this will definitively be the lowest production LESPS for the series. As far as investment potential goes, careful as many here would love to debate that scenario! Haha. PS One coin in particular has potential and that is the Kennedy half and more so if it’s submitted for grading and comes back a PR70.
Mine’s already confirmed CaliSkier. Gotta have the last LESPS made!
✅
@CaliSkier was It you or someone else that mention the only thing missing from the 2025 LESPS that was in the 2025 Silver Proof Set was the penny and nickel. Given the US mint pulling the 2025 Silver Proof Set, I was curious about the regular 2025 Proof Set. I was surprised it was CU at sales of 304,728 well short of the product limit of 420,002 and short of 23RG at 369,236 and 24RG at 355,786.
VinnieC, I previously had spoken of the missing cent and nickel in the LESPS, as well as mentioning the missing Native American/Sacagawea $1 as well. The clad Proof set moved to unavailable the week of August 24th. As far as sales falling short or the Mint producing less of a given product, in relation to previous years or announced Product or mintage limits, this year specifically, the Mint has attempted and made a concerted effort to not over produce, compared to years past for numerous products. Many products had the limits, as well as actual physical productions reduced significantly, in… Read more »
Thanks @Caliskier. I was going to get a 2025 silver proof set this year despite me previously complaining about the then it went poof. I pivoted to the 2025 LESPS, but I was thinking about the 2025 regular proof set based on your penny, nickel, Sacajawea comment, but that went CU. I have not been as diligent as during the Statehood and ATB quarters.
Cali, I’m glad you were right about a possible USM numismatic silver products price increase not happening before the release of the 2025 ASE with Navy privy, and hopefully no price increases before the 2025 LESPS and 2025 ASE with Marine Corps privy releases next month. Knock on wood!
Me too Rich! I’m hoping the same as you, that we don’t see a silver product price increase prior to the LESPS or Marine Privy release as well! Perhaps they will not raise prices and give us pity or a show of remorse, for sending out such crappy quality, toned 2025 Silver Proof sets and being forced to pull from sale? Question Rick or anyone else familiar with TPG’s? Any idea on if the 2025 Ag PF Sets would get a straight grade? Or would people get their quarters or other premature toned coins back, “Details” for questionable color, even… Read more »
Nice! Now let’s see Mint-to-Demand, a two week ordering window, simple OGP, first day orders begin to ship within 4 weeks of closure to two week MTD ordering period,
Why we usually don’t receive MS70 and PF70 coins in our order.
Dang! Sucked back in. What a beautiful set of coins. I will try to buy a set regardless of price. Agree with the MTD – EVERYONE who wants one should have the opportunity. I still think only pre-orders and a no return policy are the best way to go with mint to demand. Enough with these huge order-then-return abusers.
Gold’s AMPEX ask price is now over $4,000.
Wow. Just wow.
Yes, all gold options have exceeded $4,000. These are heady times.
I believe Goldman Sachs has the best commodity team out there…
“Goldman Sachs raised on Monday its December 2026 gold price forecast to $4,900 per ounce from $4,300, citing strong Western exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows and likely central bank buying.
“We see the risks to our upgraded gold price forecast as still skewed to the upside on net, because private sector diversification into the relatively small gold market may boost ETF holdings above our rates-implied estimate,” Goldman said.
From ^ post:
Western exchange-traded fund (ETF) = GLD being the Largest in the World…
Cag: thanks for the report.
$4,900 a good jump, let’s just hope the bandwagon keeps on rolling, after the 1804 tribute…. Hahaha
wait for th Fort Knox revalue , he. I suspect the T coin will be a 1 Trillion budget helper…..
On February 16, 2025, I posted in part: “Gold prices at the United States Mint would have to increase substantially. I believe major world powers will work together to devalue their currencies against Gold. This could be beneficial for all parties involved, as the other major economies, except Japan, have a lower Debt to GDP ratio compared to the United States. A devaluation of Gold for the United States could prompt a reevaluation. Instead of just over $700 billion being added to the balance sheet, it would be approximately $1 trillion.” Fast Forward to yesterday’s Q&A with Ken Griffin, CEO… Read more »
From ^ post: “Gold prices at the United States Mint would have to increase substantially.”
Gold prices at the United States Mint have Increased exactly $900.00 on pricing grid since my February post…
Today Ray Dalio has been speaking to CNBC.
Ray Dalio, founder of one of the world’s largest hedge funds, believes investors should allocate as much as 15% of their portfolio to Gold.
Dalio said Gold stands apart as a hedge in times of monetary debasement and geopolitical uncertainty.
25DSG: 5,899 -16
25DBG: 1,839 +220
25DA: 11,011 ??? Who the F’knows…
25NPM: 10,000
25EALE: 99,233 -2
Numbers fun with math current operators are not very reliable ….
25DA drops by 52 and you I see them selling 25DA from the “ats” numbers. The return/cancellations must be happening faster than the sales.
Today’s Lead Article in the WSJ: Gold Prices Top $4,000 for First Time (entire article) Record run for futures comes amid concern about the economy’s outlook Gold soared to $4,000 a troy ounce for the first time, signaling an investor rush into alternative assets at a time of concern about the outlook for the U.S. economy and its place in the world. The price of the precious metal has surged this year more than it did during some of America’s biggest crises. Rising more than 50%, futures’ run-up in 2025 has outpaced rallies during the pandemic and 2007-09 recession.… Read more »
Cag, although you previously did t care for pre 33, it’s done well and you can also grab some better dates without a huge premium as Au push has raised ALL boats. Wheaton Ag has been super BYW
“There’s no fever like gold fever.” – Richard Russell
From ^ article: “Western investors have also piled into the market in recent months. September marked the biggest monthly inflows on record to U.S. exchange-traded funds linked to physical gold, according to Morningstar Direct, with traders pouring about $33 billion into such funds.”
Key U.S. Funds holdings by tonnes sorted Largest to Smallest:
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) 1,012.6
iShares Gold Trust 481.0
SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust 169.6
abrdn Gold ETF Trust 50.7
iShares Gold Trust Micro 38.4
Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF 16.0
Graniteshares Gold Trust 10.5
Where is In god we trust on the coins?
The inscription “In God We Trust” first appeared on U.S. coins in 1864 during the Civil War, before the design and striking of the 1804 (Draped Bust) Dollar.
The coin it was on was the first Million dollar q on Who wants to be a Millionaire
Wish the 1804 had an identical silver counterpart medal ….. this silver 1 is ok but not like the 1804