History of the Old Silver Dollar
Most people are familiar with the term silver dollar and know that the term is used to identify any large white metal coin that is minted in the United States whose face value is equivalent to one dollar. Although the coin may not necessarily contain silver some people are of the belief it is not truly a silver dollar unless it contains at least some of the silver metal rather than its only resemblance to silver being that of its color. You will also find some gold and multi-colored dollar coins made in the United States though some are referred to as golden because they do not contain gold but are simply gold in color.
Dollar coins lost popularity after the beginning of the 20th century in spite of the widespread use of coins in similar denominations in other developed countries. Since 1971 there have been several efforts to replace or at least subsidize the paper dollar with a metal coin. This is contradictory to other countries where coins are very common such as in Great Britain where the one pound coin is more common than the one pound note. The coins are still in circulation in other countries because their perspective governments have removed the paper equivalents from circulation while the United States government has made no such effort.
It was common before the Revolutionary War for to use old silver dollar coins from many different European nations to circulate throughout all of the American colonies alongside coins issued by the colonies themselves. One of the most common European coins in circulation were the Spanish old silver dollar coins that were minted in not only Mexico but other colonies using silver that had been mined in Central and South America. These coins and others that were approximately the same size and denominations were used as legal tender in the colonies and the United States until 1857.
The Colnage Act of 1792 allowed the United States Mint to begin producing old silver dollar coins. They continued the production from 1794 to 1803 when production ceased until 1836. The first minting of the old silver dollar was on October 15, 1794 was not for widespread distribution but to provide a silver dollar to a dignitary to take home as a souvenir. Two of the most common designs from the period are those of the Flowing Hair (1794-7195) and Draped Bus (1795-1804). The Draped bus has two designs that were used on the reverse side: small eagle (1795-1798) and the heraldic eagle (1798-1804). Silver dollars minted during this period are in great demand by collectors and thus are quite valuable. These silver dollars may be quite rare or they may be more common. As with anything, however, the value is in the eyes of the collector whether the silver dollar is rare or more common. The more interested collectors are in a particular old silver dollar the more valuable it will be on the market. Just like supply and demand in any market the desire pushes the price higher.
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Rachel Barr
Silver is more rare than gold, the price will explode | Adrian Douglas
| | 1883-S Morgan Silver Dollar Rare Key Date High Grade PQ Stunner US Mint Coin $159.00 |
| | ULTRA RARE 1921 MISSING ” D ” AND ” WE ” VAM MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR U.S. COIN $189.00 |
| | 1932-S Washington Silver Quarter Dollar Key Date NGC VF Details Rare Coin $115.00 |
| | ” HOT LIPS ” 1888O VAM 4 ULTRA RARE MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR U.S. COIN 1888 O $119.00 |
| | 1880-O Morgan Silver Dollar Proof Like BU Mint State Rare Key Date MS US Coin $78.00 |
| | 1879 O XF EXTRA FINE MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR★US SCARCE KEY DATE US$1 COIN VERY RARE $89.99 |
| | 1885-S Morgan Silver Dollar Rare Key Date High Grade PQ Stunner US Mint Coin $125.00 |
| | ★ 2007 Little Rock Dollar ICG MS70 – RARE Silver Coin ★ $105.00 |
| | 1892-P Morgan Silver Dollar Rare Key Date High Grade PQ Stunner US Mint Coin $99.00 |
| | 1883-CC Morgan Dollar NGC MS 63 GSA Holder Rainbow Toned Carson City Rare Coin $350.00 |
| | 1880-O Morgan Silver Dollar Uncirculated BU Mint State Rare Key Date MS US Coin $119.00 |
| | 1892-S MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR~~RARE~~XF~~RARE $495.00 |
| | 1895-O Morgan Silver Dollar Key Date New Orleans Rare Coin Low Mintage 450,000 $229.00 |
| | 1890-CC Tailbar Morgan Silver Dollar Key Date NGC VG Details Rare Carson City $159.00 |
| | 1938-D Walking Liberty Silver Half Dollar Key Date Denver Mint Low Mintage Rare $68.00 |
| | 1883-S MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR*MS63 PCGS CERTIFIED *ESTATE COIN*RARE* $5,700.00 |
| | 1892 BARBER HALF DOLLAR PROOF*RARE*PR62CAM PCGS CERTIFIED *ESTATE COIN* $1,200.00 |
| | ***BU/MS 1888s** *RARE KEY DATE MORGAN 90% SILVER DOLLAR +RARE+ONLY 657K MINTED $225.99 |
| | 1892-S Morgan Silver Dollar Rare Key Date Higher Grade US Mint Coin $179.00 |
| | 1883 S XF EXTRA FINE MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR★US SCARCE KEY DATE US$1 COIN VERY RARE $129.99 |
| | VERY RARE DATE 1895 O Morgan SILVER Dollar PCGS AU50 CAC $1,125.00 |
| | 1884 S AU/BU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR RARE★HIGH GRADE KEY DATE LOW MINTAGE US$1 COIN $449.99 |
| | 1926 US SESQUICENTENNIAL HALF DOLLAR! BEAUTIFUL RARE COIN! $39.00 |
| | 1885 O AU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR RARE ★ HIGH GRADE KEY DATE NEW ORLEANS US $1 COIN $89.99 |
| | 1884 S XF EXTRA FINE MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR RARE★US$1 KEY DATE US$1 NICE RARE COIN $179.99 |
| | 1885 S AU/BU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR RARE★HIGH GRADE KEY DATE LOW MINTAGE US$1 COIN $179.99 |
| | 1885 S AU/BU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR RARE★HIGH GRADE KEY DATE LOW MINTAGE US$1 COIN $179.99 |
| | 1886 O AU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR★ SCARCE KEY DATE LOW MINTAGE US $1 COIN VERY RARE $179.99 |
| | 1886 O AU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR★ SCARCE KEY DATE LOW MINTAGE US $1 COIN VERY RARE $179.99 |
| | 1889-O Morgan Silver Dollar Rare Key Date High Grade PQ Stunner US Mint Coin $109.00 |
| | 1886 S XF MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR★ SCARCE KEY DATE LOW MINTAGE US $1 COIN VERY RARE $179.99 |
| | 1887 O AU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR ★ABOUT UNCIRCULATED KEY DATE US$1 COIN VERY RARE $129.99 |
| | 1887 S AU/BU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR RARE★HIGH GRADE KEY DATE LOW MINTAGE US$1 COIN $129.99 |
| | 1887 S CH/BU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR RARE★HIGH GRADE KEY DATE LOW MINTAGE US$1 COIN $349.99 |
| | ★ 1882-P Morgan Silver Dollar GEM BU MS – RARE Date! ★ $295.00 |
| | ★ 1926 Peace Silver Dollar GEM BU – Rare Key Coin! ★ $435.00 |
| | 1889 S MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR★LOW MINTAGE NICE SCARCE KEY DATE US$1 COIN VERY RARE $99.99 |
| | 1892 O XF MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR LOW MINTAGE KEY DATE NICE US$1 RARE AMERICAN COIN $179.99 |
| | 1891 P AU/BU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR★SCARCE NICE HIGH GRADE US$1 NICE RARE COIN $129.99 |
| | 1891-P MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR UNCIRCULATED RARE KEY DATE US MINT UNC MS STUNNER $107.00 |
| | 1892 O VG MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR LOW MINTAGE KEY DATE NICE US$1 RARE AMERICAN COIN $129.99 |
| | Rare 1875 Seated Liberty Silver Quarter dollar ((see scans and grade yourself)) $12.99 |
| | 1892 P AU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR LOW MINTAGE KEY DATE NICE US$1 RARE AMERICAN COIN $149.99 |
| | 1892 P AU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR LOW MINTAGE KEY DATE NICE US$1 RARE AMERICAN COIN $149.99 |
| | 1892 S VG MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR LOW MINTAGE KEY DATE NICE US$1 RARE AMERICAN COIN $129.99 |
| | 1893 CC VF+ MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR KEY DATE RARE US$1 COIN CARSON CITY LOW MINTAGE $599.99 |
| | 1893 CC VG MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR KEY DATE RARE US $1 COIN CARSON CITY LOW MINTAGE $249.99 |
| | 1927-D Peace Silver Dollar Rare Key Date High Grade PQ Stunner US Mint Coin $46.00 |
| | 1885-CC CARSON CITY MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR PCGS MS63 ( RARE-KEY-DATE) $550.00 |
| | 1893 CC XF MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR KEY DATE RARE US $1 COIN CARSON CITY LOW MINTAGE $1,499.99 |
| | 1893 P GOOD MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR★SCARCE KEY DATE LOW MINTAGE US$1 COIN VERY RARE $199.99 |
| | 1893 S VG MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR★ Scarce KEY DATE LOW MINTAGE US $1 COIN VERY RARE $3,499.99 |
| | Rare China Silver Dollar Szechuan Province $250.00 |
| | 1916-P Walking Libery Silver Half Dollar Rare Key Date Genuine US Mint Coin $29.00 |
| | 1894 P AU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR LOW MINTAGE KEY DATE NICE US$1 RARE AMERICAN COIN $1,999.99 |
| | 1894 P VF MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR LOW MINTAGE KEY DATE NICE US$1 RARE AMERICAN COIN $1,599.99 |
| | 1894 S XF EXTRA FINE MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR RARE★US$1 KEY DATE US$1 NICE RARE COIN $199.99 |
| | 1896 O XF EXTRA FINE MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR★US SCARCE KEY DATE US$1 COIN VERY RARE $129.99 |
| | 1889 CC MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR ANACS AU 58 RARE KEY DATE $3,500.00 |
| | 1895 O XF MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR RARE EXTRA FINE ★ KEY DATE LOW MINTAGE US $1 COIN $599.99 |
| | 1895 S VF+ MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR KEY DATE RARE US $1 COIN LOW MINTAGE NICE GRADE $999.99 |
| | 1895 S VF+ MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR KEY DATE RARE US $1 COIN LOW MINTAGE NICE GRADE $999.99 |
| | 1896 O XF EXTRA FINE MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR★US SCARCE KEY DATE US$1 COIN VERY RARE $129.99 |
| | 1889-S Morgan Silver Dollar Rare Key Date High Grade PQ Stunner US Mint Coin $149.00 |
| | 1896 P BU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR UNCIRCULATED KEY DATE $1 RARE MINT STATE MS COIN $129.99 |
| | 1896 P BU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR UNCIRCULATED KEY DATE $1 RARE MINT STATE MS COIN $129.99 |
| | 1896 S VF MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR KEY DATE RARE US$1 COIN LOW MINTAGE San FranciscO $129.99 |
| | 1896 S VF MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR KEY DATE RARE US$1 COIN LOW MINTAGE San Francisco $129.99 |
| | 1902-S Morgan Silver Dollar Rare Key Date Genuine US Mint Coin San Francisco $79.00 |
| | 1896 S XF MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR KEY DATE RARE US$1 COIN LOW MINTAGE San Francisco $199.99 |
| | 1894-O Morgan Silver Dollar Rare Key Date High Grade PQ Stunner US Mint Coin $119.00 |
| | 1924-S Peace Silver Dollar Rare Date High Grade PQ Stunner US Mint Coin $49.50 |
| | RARE 1897 STRAITS SETTLEMENT 50 CENT VICTORIAN ANTIQUE HALF SILVER DOLLAR $465.00 |
| | 1896 S XF MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR KEY DATE RARE US$1 COIN LOW MINTAGE San Francisco $199.99 |
| | 1897 O AU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR★ SCARCE KEY DATE LOW MINTAGE US $1 COIN VERY RARE $179.99 |
| | 1897 O BU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR★ SCARCE KEY DATE LOW MINTAGE US $1 COIN VERY RARE $449.99 |
| | 1897 O XF MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR★ SCARCE KEY DATE LOW MINTAGE US $1 COIN VERY RARE $129.99 |
| | 1897 P BU MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR★ SCARCE KEY DATE LOW MINTAGE US $1 COIN VERY RARE $129.99 |
| | 1882-O “BRILLIANT !” Morgan Silver Dollar US rare Coin BU / MS UNC key date $125.00 |
| | 1898 S VF MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR KEY DATE RARE US$1 COIN LOW MINTAGE San Francisco $89.99 |
