US Dollar Coins

About US Dollar Coins

Coins have always held a special place in the American psyche. When the country was still in its infancy, Thomas Jefferson suggested that citizens could do without paper money entirely, relying instead on coins minted in a suitably broad range of denominations. Cooler heads prevailed, but in 1792, Congress did establish the Coinage Act, which created the U.S. Mint and standardized coin denominations—from half-cent copper pieces to $10 Eagles made of solid gold.

The first U.S. dollar coins were made of silver and issued in 1794. By all accounts, the coin was not well received because the press that had been used to strike the coin was not strong enough to make a clear impression on a denomination of that size. Only 1,758 of these Flowing Hair silver dollars were issued, with a few hundred more struck the following year...

In 1795, a depiction of Lady Liberty with a Draped Bust replaced the silver dollar’s obverse (front). The reverse of the coin, consisting of an oddly undernourished-looking eagle, remained fairly consistent until 1798, when it was replaced by what is known today as the Heraldic Eagle. That raptor made it onto the backs of the 1804 silver dollars, which are among the rarest and most mysterious U.S. dollar coins ever minted.

From 1840 until 1873, Seated Liberty silver dollars were put into circulation, even though by 1853 the value of the silver in the coin was worth more than a buck, making their use as currency problematic. In some years, tens of thousands of coins were issued, although in two years (1871 and 1872) more than a million were struck. Rarest of all are the 1870-S dollars minted in San Francisco—less than a dozen are thought to have been produced.

The Morgan silver dollars of 1878 to 1904 and 1921 came next. Designed by the U.S. Mint’s chief engraver, George T. Morgan, the coin featured a profile of a garlanded Lady Liberty on the obverse, with an eagle clutching arrows and an olive branch on the reverse. Morgans are one of two silver-dollar types scrutinized by VAM fans, who scour the surfaces of these coins to determine the actual dies used to strike them. For the enthusiastic coin collector, this minute level of detail is part of the joy of the pursuit.

Peace dollars (1921-1928 and 1934-1935) also get the VAM treatment. Named for the word "PEACE" stamped below the perched bald eagle on the coin’s reverse, Peace dollars replaced the Morgans at a time when a post-World War I nation was looking for a hopeful sentiment on its coins. Sculptor Anthony de Francisci won the open competition for the coin’s design. Collectors prize the so-called high-relief coins struck that first year—the relief was so deep that the coins could not be stacked reliably.

Of course silver was not the only material used to mint dollar coins. In 1849, the year of the California gold rush, gold dollar coins were minted. The original design, sometimes called the Type One Gold Dollar, featured a Liberty head on one side and a wreath on the other. Coins from 1849 whose wreaths appear open at the top are extremely rare and command megabucks at auctions.

In 1854, the gold Indian Princess dollar was introduced—coins bearing a Princess with a small head were struck from 1854 to 1856; larger-headed Princesses were produced until 1889. Gold dollar coins, especially the original Liberty heads, were sometimes soldered into jewelry. As you’d expect, coins with solder marks are worth less than those without.

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Interviews & Articles

An Interview With U.S. Pattern Coin Collector Andy Lustig

I started collecting coins when I was five years old, and I started dealing when I was 13 or 14. Most kids st… [more]



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Clubs & Associations: US Coins Dollars


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1995 American Eagle 10th Anniversary Set$5,101 Ends Sunday 11 bids 29 watchers
2008-w 4 Pc Unc. American Gold Buffalo Set W/ Box & Coa$4,500 Ends Sunday 5 bids 70 watchers
307 High Grade Lot Of Peace And Morgan Dollars$4,310 Ends Saturday 19 bids 31 watchers
Complete Set Of Morgan Dollars!! High End Collection!!!$4,095 Ends Saturday 3 bids 12 watchers
1798 Draped Bust Dollars Wide Date Pcgs Xf40$4,050 Ends Sunday 14 bids 30 watchers
1887-o Pcgs Pq Ms65 Pl Proof Like Morgan No Reserve! Nr$3,150 Ends Sunday 14 bids 20 watchers
1893-s Morgan Dollar Pcgs Vg 08 (no Reserve) 15$3,150 Ends in 3 hours 24 bids 40 watchers
1893-cc Morgan Dollar ~ Pcgs Ms61 ~ Full Strike $2,915 Ends in 2 hours 15 bids 42 watchers
1795 Flowing Hair Dollar - Pcgs F15 - Gorgeous Coin!$2,827 Ends Saturday 22 bids 59 watchers
1888 Morgan Dollars Ngc Pr65 Ca$2,735 Ends Sunday 28 bids 4 watchers
1800 Draped Bust Dollars Ngc Au50$2,551 Ends Sunday 12 bids 28 watchers
1996 American Eagle Gold Bullion Coin Proof Set$2,550 Ends Sunday 2 bids 13 watchers
1994 American Eagle Gold Bullion Coin Proof Set$2,501 Ends Sunday 4 bids 17 watchers
1893 S Morgan Silver Dollar$2,500 Ends Sunday 1 bid 22 watchers
1893-cc Morgan Dollars Pcgs Ms60$2,247 Ends Sunday 9 bids 43 watchers
150 Peace Silver Dollar Lot Cull Bullion $2,200 Ends Sunday 21 bids 24 watchers
1795 Draped Bust Dollar Choice Vf++/xf ** Scarce!!$2,175 Ends Saturday 19 bids 44 watchers
1889-cc Pcgs Xf45, King Of The Cc Morgan Dollars!$2,125 Ends Sunday 16 bids 54 watchers
1889-cc Rare Key Date Morgan Silver Dollar Coin$2,026 Ends in 21 hours 22 bids 36 watchers
125 Peace Silver Dollar Lot Cull Bullion $1,800 Ends Sunday 20 bids 25 watchers
1883-cc Morgan Dollars Ngc Ms67$1,775 Ends Sunday 6 bids 13 watchers
1801 Draped Bust Dollar Choice Xf+++/au ** Pq Pq Pq$1,725 Ends Sunday 11 bids 37 watchers
1986-w American Eagle Gold One Oz. Proof Coin$1,625 Ends Sunday 5 bids 16 watchers
Rare Key Date Ngc Bu 1921 Peace Silver Dollar Ms66$1,625 Ends Sunday 6 bids 12 watchers
Morgan Silver And Peace Silver Dollars$1,580 Ends in 22 hours 4 bids 7 watchers
1880-s Morgan Pcgs Ms-66 Dmpl Generation 2 Case!$1,550 Ends Saturday 2 bids 13 watchers
100 Morgan Peace Silver Dollars Bulk Bullion Lot 5 Roll$1,546 Ends in 4 hours 12 bids 18 watchers
100 Peace Silver Dollar Lot Cull Bullion $1,525 Ends Sunday 8 bids 21 watchers
1893-s Morgan Dollar ~ Good To Vg Details Pcgs ~ $1,525 Ends Monday 11 bids 29 watchers
1894 Morgan Dollar ~ Pcgs Au50 ~ White Luster Coin$1,520 Ends in 20 hours 12 bids 39 watchers
1879 Trade Dollar "proof" Superb Gem Pf ** Gorgeous!!!$1,482 Ends Thursday 8 bids 24 watchers
Rare 1893 S Ngc Good Details Key Date Morgan Dollar N/r$1,331 Ends Sunday 30 bids 18 watchers
Ngc Pf69 Ucam 1986 To 2008 Proof Silver Eagle Set $1,325 Ends Monday 8 bids 17 watchers
1870 Seated Liberty Dollar "proof" Solid Gem Pf+++$1,275 Ends Tuesday 10 bids 24 watchers
1889-cc Morgan Dollars Pcgs Vf35$1,273 Ends Sunday 8 bids 23 watchers
1891-cc Morgan Dollar Pcgs Ms65 Gem!$1,250 Ends Saturday 15 bids 8 watchers
2009 American Gold Buffalo $50 1 Oz Gold Ms70 Early Rel$1,227 Ends Sunday 16 bids 10 watchers
1889 Cc Choice High Grade Beauty Morgan Dollar Pcgs$1,225 Ends Wednesday 29 bids 29 watchers
75 Peace Silver Dollar Lot Cull Bullion $1,202 Ends Sunday 18 bids 38 watchers
2009 American Gold Buffalo $50 1 Oz Gold Ms70 Early Rel$1,176 Ends Wednesday 4 bids 6 watchers
2006 American Buffalo $50 - Gold$1,132 Ends in 6 hours 2 bids 7 watchers
1884-cc Pcgs Ms65 Dmpl Pq Registry Morgan No Reserve Nr$1,130 Ends Sunday 15 bids 19 watchers
1898 Morgan Dollar "proof" Superb Gem Pf ** Super Pq$1,125 Ends Sunday 13 bids 37 watchers
1882-cc Morgan Dollars Ngc Ms67$1,125 Ends Sunday 12 bids 12 watchers
1881-cc Morgan Dollars Ngc Ms67$1,125 Ends Sunday 13 bids 15 watchers
1892-cc Morgan Dollars Pcgs Ms64$1,075 Ends Sunday 14 bids 32 watchers
$10 Roll Morgan Silver Dollars - Ultra Rare Bu Unc $1,025 Ends Tuesday 16 bids 25 watchers
1889-cc Morgan Dollar ~ Au Details Ngc ~ Bold Strike$1,025 Ends Wednesday 23 bids 35 watchers
1990 $25 Gold Eagle$1,020 Ends in 4 hours 13 bids 13 watchers
1894-morgan Silver Dollar Key Date Au$995.00 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 8 watchers
1859-o Liberty Seated Dollars Pcgs Au58$963.00 Ends Sunday 13 bids 34 watchers
1875-cc Trade Dollars Ngc Ms61$960.00 Ends Sunday 17 bids 19 watchers
1928 Peace Dollar Pcgs Ms-64, Stunning!$955.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 6 watchers
1880-cc Rev 78 Carson City Morgan Dollar Pcgs Ms65$930.00 Ends Sunday 14 bids 25 watchers
1892 Cc Anacs Morgan Dollar Anacs Ms-61 ** Key Date!!$910.00 Ends Tuesday 16 bids 17 watchers
1795 Flowing Hair Dollar Pcgs Genuine Silver Plug$898.00 Ends Monday 18 bids 50 watchers
1878-1886(36)set Of Morgan Silver Dollars;8 Carson City$888.88 Ends Monday 12 bids 15 watchers

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Recent News: US Dollar Coins

Source: Google News

'I didn't want to rat them out'
Ottawa Citizen, November 19th

16, 2006, testified he had gone behind a gas station next to the Silver Dollar Strip Club on Merivale Road to smoke marijuana when an argument with one of...Read more

Authorities recover most rare coins taken in Montville theft case
NJ.com, November 19th

Among the coins that were found were American half-dollars from 1806 and 1807 and a rare 1892 silver dollar, Leidman said. Montville police couldn't comment...Read more

Type Set Spurs Interest in Many Designs
NumisMaster.com, November 19th

Perhaps the small eagle half dollar (and quarter, too) were stoppers to a complete set, but the small eagle silver dollar of 1795-1798 was the easiest to...Read more

Statue of Liberty Half Hugely Popular Even if Clad
NumisMaster.com, November 18th

The silver dollar and clad half dollar were overshadowed. What is overlooked is that once the $5 gold sold out, the Statue of Liberty silver dollar and clad...Read more

1839: Another Amazing Year in US Coinage
CoinLink, November 18th

In 1836 silver dollar coinage was resumed. It portrayed a Liberty Seated figure with no stars on the obverse. The reverse depicted a soaring eagle in a sea...Read more

Wanna Dance?
Planet Jackson Hole, November 17th

I fumbled under the bar for a hook to hang my jacket on last Tuesday night at the Wort's Silver Dollar Bar. “Not exactly,” I sheepishly explained to the...Read more

National Federation of the Blind Announces Notre Dame Will Use Braille Coin in ...
Reuters, November 4th

A portion of the proceeds from sales of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar will be used to support the NFB's "Braille Readers are Leaders"...Read more

The 10-10-10 Financial Survival Plan
WEBCommentary, October 26th

For instance, a silver dollar that is currently worth less than $20 could have much more buying power than that hundred dollar bill you have in your wallet...Read more

US Coins Dollars

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