1921 Peace Dollar

The 1921 Peace Dollar has a value of between $125 and $6,500
Type: Peace Dollar
Value: $125 to $6,500
Silver Value: $61.25 Mintages: 1 Million
Metal Content: 90% silver, 10% copper
Raw Weight: 26.73 g
Silver Weight: .7735 oz
Face Value: $1.00
Diameter: 1.5 in
Edge: Reeded
Years Minted: 1921–1928 and 1934,1935

The 1921 Peace Dollar was the first of these fine silver dollars to be issued. The coin was designed by Anthony de Francisci as an alternative to the Morgan Dollar, and in honor of the peace accords following World War I. Because of the Pittman Act in 1918, millions of silver dollars were to be minted and, in 1921, production of the Morgan Dollar, and then the Peace Dollar began. From 1921 until 1928 when the fulfillment of the Pittman Act took place, millions of Peace Dollars were struck.

Read more about Peace Dollars

Seated Liberty Dollar

The Seated Liberty Dollar was minted between 1840 and 1873 in the United States.The current melt value for this coin is $61.25 although a coin of this period almost always sells for much much more.

From 1840 until the passage of the Coinage Act of 1873, Seated Liberty Dollars were the coins produced from the U.S. Mint. During this time, most silver coinage produced by the Mint were essentially “on demand” and were only struck when the Mint was presented with silver. Initial design began in 1836 but the final approval wasn’t received until mid-1840 when a trial strike of 12,400 Seated Liberty Dollars were produced in July as examples of what bullion depositors would receive as struck coinage.

The Seated Liberty Dollar was minted between 1840 and 1873 in the United States.The current melt value for this coin is $61.25 although a coin of this period almost always goes for much much more.

Until the New Orleans Mint began striking Seated Liberty Dollars in 1846, all silver dollars were produced at the Philadelphia Mint. The San Francisco Mint also struck hundreds of thousands of Seated Liberty Dollars, many of which were thought to be shipped to China to pay for trade goods. From 1870 until the abolition of silver dollar coinage in 1873, the Carson City Mint also struck the Seated Liberty Dollar as well.

The entire striking, including all mints, from 1840 until 1873 totaled just under 3.2 million Seated Liberty Dollars. The lowest production years were 1851 and 1852 when only 2,400 total Seated Liberty Dollars were produced. Some years (1851-O and 1858) are also extremely rare due to no production with only proof strikes being produced. Also, many Seated Liberty Dollars were melted down by private owners and large melts were done in the New York Sub-Treasury to be restruck as smaller denominations.

Although the initial design coins were struck in accordance of the 1792 law stating silver coin purity was to be set at .892 (89.2%), the Coinage Act of 1837 restructured silver purity to be .900 (90%) silver. Subsequent designs and the production coins all met the 1837 standards for silver purity.

The Seated Liberty Dollar weighs 26.73 grams and has a diameter of 38.1 millimeters. The remaining metal content is copper and the edge of the Seated Liberty Dollar is reeded. In 1866, the reverse design was changed to add a ribbon with the text “In God We Trust” which became the standard used until the coin was abolished in 1873.

Morgan Silver Dollar (img)

Where Did The Morgan Silver Dollars Come From?

Back in the 1870s, the Comstock Silver Lode produced a huge oversupply of silver while the unemployment rate in the US was significant. The US Mint struck a deal with Nevada silver producers to generate a large amount of Morgan silver dollars. This provided an outlet for the oversupply of Comstock silver while providing employment to workers all over the country. Morgan silver dollarswere produced in 5 different mints and while the immediate goal of providing employment was met, so many Morgan silver dollars were produced that millions of them had to be placed in storage to prevent negative effects on the overall US economy.

The Move Of The Century

With so many millions of Morgan silver dollars in storage, the US government decided something had to be done. In 1917-1918, the Pittman Act was passed which made provision for some 300 million Morgan silver dollars to be melted down and the silver reused for other coins and purposes. The coins that were melted were from multiple years and from multiple mints which means that some years and mintages were virtually wiped out. This created a collectable coin market which made the Morgan silver dollar a very popular coin to collect as well as to invest in.

A Reprieve?

Since so many Morgan silver dollars were produced, even after the melt-off in 1918, the US Mint still had several large stockpiles in hidden away in storage. Finds were being made as late as the early 1960s at which time a large cache of Morgan silver dollars were discovered. This brought to light thousands of uncirculated coins, some of which were considered to be rare years and even rarer mintages. In the 1970s, the US Mint held a sale of uncirculated Carson City Morgan silver dollars, introducing a new generation to high value coins at an easily affordable price.

The Morgan Silver Dollar Today

Today, while it does depend on the condition and the rarity of the coin, Morgan silver dollars have become arguably the most popular coin for both collecting and investing. Coin prices rarely drop and with so many Morgan dollars available, the buy in for even the novice coin collector or a beginning investor is easily affordable. If you’re looking for a great way to start a coin collection, a great way to expand your coin collection or you want to find a great investment coin to enhance your portfolio and protect your investment dollars, going with Morgan silver dollars is definitely a great way to go.