Silver dollars are perhaps one of America’s most popular coins.
They often turn up in estates, are passed down from parents and grandparents.
They are usually advertised in magazines and on TV.
But what are silver dollars worth?
Silver dollars are very collectible and within reach of most coin collectors.
True Silver Dollars
You should know that most silver dollars are actually very common.
You won’t find true silver dollars (those made before 1936) at your bank anymore.
True silver dollars survive in large quantities and usually are in great condition.
It may surprise you to know that millions of silver dollars still exist, though many have been melted down over the decades.
Morgan And Peace Silver Dollars
The first silver dollars were struck in 1794. But there is a good chance the silver dollar you have and are curious about is dated from about 1878 through 1935. These silver dollars are called Morgan silver dollars (also Liberty Head silver dollars) and Peace silver dollars.
- Morgan silver dollars were struck during 1878 through 1921.
- Peace silver dollars were made from 1921 until 1935.
These 2 silver dollar types are the ones I will discuss here.
Morgan Silver Dollars
Morgan silver dollars have been popularly dubbed in honor of the coin’s designer, George T. Morgan.
The Morgan silver dollar is the kind of silver dollar you typically see advertised on TV and in magazines.
They are the ones that are often associated with romantic depictions of the Wild West and frontier life. In fact, silver dollars were well circulated in the West during the late 19th century.
Morgan Silver Dollar Values
Most Morgan silver dollars are common, especially in lower grades. These common Morgan silver dollars are usually worth between $25 to $50 in typical circulated grades.
However, there are certain dates of Morgan silver dollars that you will want to look for:
“CC” is the mintmark for Carson City, Nevada.
- 1878-CC $100 to $390 in Good-4 thorough Mint State-63
- 1879-CC $175 to $6,500 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1880-CC $175 to $600 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1881-CC $400 to $600 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1882-CC $100 to $235 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1883-CC $100 to $230 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1884-CC $145 to $230 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1885-CC $600 to $755 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1889-CC $475 to $43,500 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1891-CC $95 to $765 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1892-CC $220 to $1,975 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1893-$210 to $1,300 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1893-CC $250 to $5,850 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1893-S $2,900 to $210,000 in Good 4 through Mint State-63
- 1894-$800 to $6,500 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1895-O $275 to $57,500 in Good-4 through Mint State 63
- 1895-S $425 to $6,750 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1899 $165 to $350 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1901 Doubled Die Obverse $200 to $4,400 in Good-4 through About Uncirculated-55
- 1903-O $400 to $490 in Good-4 through Mint State 63
- 1903-S $90 to $6,250 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1903-S “Micro S” $200 to $17,500 in Good-4 through About Uncirculated 55
Peace Silver Dollars
Designed by Anthony de Francisci, the Peace silver dollar is a great example of the nation’s post-World War I idealism of freedom, hope, and prosperity. The “Roaring 20s” were indeed good times for the nation (until the Crash of ’29 and the Great Depression era which soon followed).
The Peace silver dollar was first coined in 1921 and last saw production in 1935.
Peace silver dollars generally are quite common. This is especially the case for Peace silver dollars minted during the mid-1920s, which usually seem to be the dates that pop up in many advertisements for Peace silver dollars.
Peace Silver Dollar Values
The 1921 Peace silver dollar (the first year of the Peace silver dollar series) was struck in a “high-relief” format. This means that the design is a little thicker — or higher up off the surface of the coin — than other years.
1921 is also an inexpensive date for Peace silver dollars. The lowest price you can expect to pay for a 1921 Peace silver dollar is $110 to $585 in Good-4 through Mint State-63 grades.
Most of the common Peace silver dollars can be had for between $20 to $50 in grades of Good all the way up to Mint State-60. However, there are a few dates which cost quite a bit more even in the lowest grades.
Here is a rundown of Peace silver dollar values:
- 1924-S $24 to $600 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1928 $435 to $1,025 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
- 1934-S $32 to $3,800 in Good-4 through Mint State-63
More Information On Silver Dollars
If you are interested in learning more about the prices and values of your silver dollars online, check out the articles about silver coins and articles about dollar coins found here at the Fun Times Guide to Coins, as well as these great resources:
- History Of The Silver Dollar
- Silver Dollars: Both Common And Rare
- A Guide Book Of United States Coins
- Professional Coin Grading Service’s Online Price Guide
- Morgan Silver Dollar Values: 15 Year Trends
- Peace Silver Dollar Values: 15 Year Trends
