Silver Dollars

Through the Years

A Brief History of Silver Dollars Minted in the

United States

Origin of the Dollar in the United States In colonial times, the money used was the money received from Europe. Spanish dollars, also known as Pieces of Eight, were very common, and most people knew what they were.

In 1785, the dollar was made the official standard monetary unit of the United States.

(Yeoman, 2007 ed., page 200)

Flowing Hair Design⁂ The Flowing Hair Design was the first design used

by the United States Mint.⁂ “The Flowing Hair design appeared on the first

United States Silver Dollars in 1794, but only lasted until sometime in 1795, when it was replaced with the Draped Bust design. The 1794 Silver Dollar is a rare coin, represented by approximately 150-200 survivors. The 1795 Silver Dollar is much more common, but the demand from type collectors keeps the prices high.”

(CoinFacts.com, FLOWING HAIR SILVER DOLLARS)

For pictures, see http://www.coinfacts.com/silver_dollars/flowing_hair_dollars/flowing_hair_silver_dollars.html

Draped Bust Design※ The Draped Bust Silver Dollar was the second

design adopted by the U.S. Mint.※ From 1795 to 1798, the Plain Eagle reverse was

used.※ From 1798 to 1804, the Eagle and Shield reverse

was in use.※ The 1804 is an extremely rare date. Mint records

show that about 19,000 were produced, but experts believe that these were dated 1803.

(CoinFacts.com, DRAPED BUST SILVER DOLLARS)For pictures, see

http://www.coinfacts.com/silver_dollars/draped_bust_dollars/draped_bust_silver_dollars.html

Seated Liberty Design From 1836-1839, a reverse design featuring an eagle in flight was used.

In 1840, a new reverse design featuring an eagle with a shield was introduced.

In 1866, the motto ‘In God We Trust’ was added to the reverse.

(CoinFacts.com, SEATED LIBERTY SILVER DOLLARS)For pictures, seehttp://www.coinfacts.com/silver_dollars/seated_liberty_dollars/seated_liberty_silver_dollars.html

Trade Dollars Trade Dollars were created to be used in Asia. They competed with similar coins issued there by other countries.

(Yeoman, 2007 ed., page 209)For pictures, see http://www.coinfacts.com/silver_dollars/trade_dollars/trade_dollars.html

Morgan Silver Dollars Some names for designs refer to the engraver that designed it. This dollar was designed by George T. Morgan.

Coinage began in 1878, and continued until 1904, when silver supplies ran out. In 1918, the Pittman Act ordered 270,232,722 silver dollars to be melted.

In 1921, coinage resumed and gave way to the Peace Dollar near the end of that year.

(Yeoman, 2007 ed., page 211)For pictures, see http://www.coinfacts.com/silver_dollars/morgan_dollars/morgan_silver_dollars.html

Peace Dollars In 1921 after silver dollars returned to production, the Peace design was incorporated.

It commemorated the peace after World War I. In 1964, the mintage of Peace Dollars was approved, but later abandoned, and all dollars produced were melted at the mint.

(Yeoman, 2007 ed., page 215)

For pictures, see http://www.coinfacts.com/silver_dollars/peace_dollars/peace_dollars.html

Eisenhower Dollars Although they are called ‘Silver Dollars’, Eisenhower Dollars are actually made of an alloy of copper/nickel bonded with a layer of copper.

They were created to honor both President Dwight Eisenhower and the lunar landing of 1969.

In 1976, dollars dated 1776-1976 were issued to commemorate the Bicentennial of the United States.

(Yeoman, 2007 ed., page 216-217)For pictures, see http://www.coinfacts.com/silver_dollars/eisenhower_dollars/eisenhower_dollars.html

Susan B. Anthony Dollars Beginning in 1979, a small dollar coin was minted to honor the suffragette Susan B. Anthony.

Because its size was too similar to that of the quarter, it was not very popular.

In 1999, 11,776,000 pieces were minted for use with vending machines.

(Yeoman, 2007 ed., page 218)For pictures, see http://www.coinfacts.com/silver_dollars/SusanBAnthonyDollars.htm

Present Day In 2000, the ‘Gold Dollar’ was released. It featured Sacagawea and her son, Jean Baptiste.

Starting in 2001, silver eagle bullion dollars have been produced at West Point.

(Yeoman, 2007 ed., page 326)For pictures of the Sacagawea Dollar, see http://www.coinfacts.com/silver_dollars/sacagawea_dollars/sac_dollars_by_date.htm