While the reported mintage for the 1801 Draped Bust silver dollar is 54,454, many factors raise questions about the accuracy of that figure and, therefore, the true scarcity of the coin. The first coins of the United States are both historic and interesting. They are also generally scarce, and for some of us, they can be frustrating. For example, if you like exact information, these coins may not be for you. Determining how many were minted can be a lot closer to an art than a science. The 1801 Draped Bust dollar, with a reported mintage of just 54,454 pieces, is a typical example. There is almost no way to compare its seemingly low mintage issue to other dollars of the period. Not many exist, as the production of silver dollars was suspended in 1804, and the next was not made for decades. This production suspension occurred because silver dollars were not circulating. Instead, in many cases, they were exported almost as fast as they were struck. When coins are exported for their