Collectors often overlook silver dollars in favor of rare coins like gold, but many silver dollars are just as rare, if not more so, than their precious metal cousins. If you’re looking to expand your collection into the realm of silver, look no further than this list of the top five rare silver dollars you’ll want to add to your collection.
1) Flowing Hair Dollar
The Flowing Hair Dollar was the first silver dollar struck by the United States Mint. It was minted from 1794 to 1795 and bore a likeness of Lady Liberty on the obverse with flowing hair. The reverse contains an image of an eagle holding a ribbon in its beak. Collectors prized it as one of the rarest coins from this era for its beauty and rarity. The design for this coin was modeled after French coins circulating in America then, as well as some American coins that were produced in Philadelphia before the Revolution.
2) Morgan Dollar
The Morgan Dollar is a silver dollar named for its designer, George T. Morgan. The coin was minted from 1878 to 1904 and again in 1921. Many coins in the series are rare and sought-after by collectors. One of these coins is the 1890-O Morgan Dollar, which has a mintage of just 484,000 coins. This means it could be tough to find one at an affordable price.
Another example is the 1895-P Morgan Dollar. It’s hard to find a spotless example of this issue, but if you can, it will cost around $1,200+. Another rarity with low mintage numbers would be the 1901-S Morgan Dollar. Fewer than 700 were made; prices vary depending on condition and other factors like age and wear. The 1907/6 overdate Morgan Dollar has only been found three times in recent years, so even though there are only about 200 of them out there, they still fetch over $1 million when available for sale.
3) Seated Liberty Dollar
The Seated Liberty Dollar is one of the few coins that was minted in silver. It was discontinued in 1873 but minted again in 1879 to help with the monetary shortage. There are a couple of variations, including the No Motto and With Motto. The no motto has two dates: 1879 and 1880, while the With Motto only had one date: 1880.
The Seated Liberty Dollar is one of the few coins that was minted in silver. It was discontinued in 1873 but minted again in 1879 to help with the monetary shortage. There are a couple of variations, including the No Motto and With Motto. The no motto has two dates: 1879 and 1880, while the With Motto only have one date: 1880. These rare silver dollars were used and circulated until 1964 when they were withdrawn from circulation due to their small size.
4) Peace Dollar
The Peace Dollar coin was minted from 1921 to 1928 and again in 1934 and 1935. The reason these coins are so rare is that they were never circulated. The government was trying to get people to use silver dollars instead of gold ones, so they pulled all the gold ones out of circulation and melted them down.
This led to a bunch of these rare silver dollars being made before no more gold left, making it hard to find one today. The US Mint stopped making these coins as soon as they ran out of the pre-existing inventory. It’s not uncommon for one to cost thousands or tens of thousands at auction or in dealer sales today, with good quality examples going for upwards of $100,000!
5) Proof Trade Dollar
This coin was minted in 1873 and featured Liberty on the obverse. The reverse features an American eagle with a shield. The Proof Trade Dollar is considered one of the most beautiful coins. With a mintage of less than 100, this coin is rarer than most others on this list. Many collectors are drawn to the Proof Trade Dollar because of its history and scarcity, but also for the beauty it possesses.
Conclusion
Not all silver dollars are created equal, and there are some that you should consider adding to your collection. Whether you’re a coin collector or just looking for a unique gift, this list of the top five rare silver dollars is sure to have something for everyone.
