Diameters of Early Dollars

jacrispies

Normally in the history of U.S. coinage, diameter has started large and the coins thin, with a progressively decreasing diameter over the years. This week I learned that the Small Eagle dollars of 1794-1798 are actually smaller than the later 1798-1803 Heraldic Eagle style coins, with the latter being roughly 2mm larger. This distinction is even true comparing the 1798 small eagle to 1798 large eagle dollars. The dollars started small, grew slightly in 1798, and then shrunk back down again with the steam press post Gobrecht coinage. Now you know!

Small Eagle (1794-1798), smaller diameter.

Large/Heraldic Eagle (1798-1803), larger diameter.

Photos Courtesy Stack's Bowers Archives

jacrispies

I wonder what change in processes that led to this consistent change. Perhaps it was striking pressure?

acelm

And then shrank again dramatically in 1979…

CaptHenway

How do the two sizes compare in diameter to Mexican 8 Reales of the 1790’s? Is there any possibility that there was an interest in making the Dollars appear more like the 8 Reales?

The_Dinosaur_Man

If the size hadn't changed, would the nation still have an issue with the dollar coins disappearing out of the country, leading to the hiatus after 1803?