Whether it is the chunky and heavy nature of the coin, or the American people’s reluctance to do away with the more traditional dollar bills, the US Mint has never been able to make the dollar coin, or ‘silver dollar’ a success. Up until 1935, there have been dollar coins issued in the hope that they may take off and become used regularly by the public. If nothing else, the lifetime of a dollar coin is much longer than its paper counterpart. A paper dollar is only expected to last a maximum of five years, meaning millions have to be printed each year at a cost.
Due to the fact that silver dollar coins are so robust there are coins still in existence today dating back several decades. Combine this with the fact that so many were produced in an effort to make them useable any silver dollar, even one dating back 100 years, is not as valuable as people think. Just between 1880 and 1890 100 million silver dollars were minted at the New Orleans Mint alone, by 1900 there were four mints in the US churning out just as many. Also, silver dollars and silver half dollars were never made of pure silver, all contained at least 10 per cent copper so the value in silver alone is not great.
A simple search throws up a number of silver dollars from the late 1800s or early 1900s for around $300, though obviously some years are more valuable than others for some collectors. It is definitely worth taking your coin to a dealer or collector and getting it valued, in case it is of value to an expert. There are several online valuation specialists who might give you an idea of price, one such website is www.nextag.com.
Due to the fact that silver dollar coins are so robust there are coins still in existence today dating back several decades. Combine this with the fact that so many were produced in an effort to make them useable any silver dollar, even one dating back 100 years, is not as valuable as people think. Just between 1880 and 1890 100 million silver dollars were minted at the New Orleans Mint alone, by 1900 there were four mints in the US churning out just as many. Also, silver dollars and silver half dollars were never made of pure silver, all contained at least 10 per cent copper so the value in silver alone is not great.
A simple search throws up a number of silver dollars from the late 1800s or early 1900s for around $300, though obviously some years are more valuable than others for some collectors. It is definitely worth taking your coin to a dealer or collector and getting it valued, in case it is of value to an expert. There are several online valuation specialists who might give you an idea of price, one such website is www.nextag.com.
