Dexter Adds to 1804 Dollar Legend by Creating Documentary Works of Art to Celebrate His Genuine 1804 Dollar!

Upon settling his suit against S.H. and H. Chapman over the authenticity of his 1804 dollar, James V. Dexter's lawyer, Thomas DeWitt Cuyler, wrote to him on February 15th, 1887:

"Dear Sir:

Dexter vs Chapman.

I beg to say that acting upon your instructions I have discontinued the above suit after taking certificates from Col. Snowden and the Officials of the Mint that the coin is genuine. These certificates are strong and very valuable as to the value of the coin when it is considered that they come from entirely disinterested sources....

...Of course you will still hear adverse criticism of the coin but in such a matter all will never be convinced and my advice to you would be to dismiss the attacks upon the dollar from your mind and insist in view of the examinations made and the certificates that you have a genuine coin beyond question."

Obviously, Dexter took that advice to heart and celebrated his landmark victory in establishing the genuineness of the 1804 Dollar! That same year, 1887, he commissioned artist Charles Stoll to create a documentary work of art exhibiting "The Dollar of 1804." It's an attractive and colorful rendering that very accurately details both sides of the original coin, housed in its colorful display case. The famous "disappearance" story of the 1804 Dollar believed at the time is featured in beautiful hand-lettering below the illustration of the coin.

The 1887 hand drawn copies of the original Certificates of Genuineness obtained from the U.S. Mint by J.V. Dexter appear in the left and right center positions, the copy of the third Certificate appears in the lower center position. The original Certificates passed along with the 1804 Dollar to all owners subsequent to Dexter, until the 1980's when they were misplaced. This is the only original 1887 record of those Certificates known to exist!

The other hand-drawn copies of documents featured include a hand-written letter from J.W. Scott, who represented Dexter at the auction where the 1804 Dollar was purchased. This is located in the upper left and right. In the upper center is a copy of a letter from S.H. & H. Chapman guaranteeing the 1804 Dollar to be "genuine and as described in the catalog." Finally, in the lower left and lower right is a very accurate copy of the four pages of the 1885 Chapman auction catalog describing the 1804 Dollar bought by J.V. Dexter. The seemingly blank page in the lower right is a plate illustrating silver dollars offered in the sale, including the 1804 Dollar, which are illustrated by circles in the reproduction.

These original 1887 documentary works of art have been expertly framed with museum-quality materials, including light-filtering protective glass to help preserve them.