although the mint coined 1803-dated eagles in 1804, a total of 3,757 eagles dated 1804 were struck in that year. these pieces, dubbed the "crosslet 4" variety (plain 4 eagles have a short projection of the cross-stroke of the 4 extending to the right of the upright, crosslet 4 have short vertical extensions of the cross-stroke at the end of the projection), were extensively melted at the time, and the few known today are very collectible. r.s. yeoman, in his "red book" valuing us coins published during 2012, values the crosslet 4 at $125,000 in ms-63 ranging down to $55,000 in more circulated, almost uncirculated-50 condition. many surviving turban head eagles were sold by exchange agents to coin dealers or collectors in the 1850s and afterwards as the hobby became more popular and the pieces acquired a modest premium over their melt value.