‘King of American coins’ discovered at grandfather’s house, sells for $6 million

A coin that remained forgotten for more than 75 years, hidden in a family collection, has sold for $6 million at auction after resurfacing unexpectedly.

On December 9, Stack’s Bowers Galleries auctioned a newly identified example of the famous 1804 silver dollar, widely known as the King of American Coins. This piece is the sixteenth known example in existence.

The coin came from the legacy of New York collector James A. Stack, whose extensive collection was assembled during the 1930s and 1940s. After his death, the estate was divided among his three children. While much of the collection was sold between 1975 and 1995, one heir quietly retained his share, keeping several valuable pieces out of public view for decades.

A discovery that rewrites history

Among those pieces was an 1804 dollar whose existence was unknown even to leading specialists. Its rediscovery in 2024 caused widespread surprise, as it was a coin of enormous historical importance that had remained hidden for generations. The find is now considered one of the most remarkable numismatic discoveries of the 21st century.

The origin of the 1804 dollar dates back to 1834, when the United States Mint struck coins bearing that date as diplomatic gifts for foreign leaders, despite the fact that no silver dollars were actually produced in 1804. Eight original examples and seven later re-strikes are known, the latter believed to have been made for collectors during the 19th century.

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