Once, actual silver dollar coins filled cash registers across America, and some of those old coins still exist in coin collections and change jars. The rarest silver dollars are worth more than a buck (way more). Some from decades ago can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s all about knowing how to spot silver dollars worth money.
Modern dollars do not contain real silver, but if you dig through your granddad’s secret stash of old coins between the loose tobacco leaves and pocket lint, takeout menus, you might find a few of these beauties. Now, your grandad’s lottery-sized prize dream from his coin collection may just come true if you can find some of the most valuable silver dollars.
6 of the Most Valuable Silver Dollars
All dollar coins are face value of at least one dollar. Some coins are many times that value. Here are six of the rarest silver dollars and their values.
| Silver Dollar | Value |
|---|---|
| 1885 Trade proof silver dollar | $3,960,000 |
| 1893-S Morgan Silver dollar | $2,086,875 |
| 1870-S Liberty seated dollar | $1,092,500 |
| 1884-S Morgan silver dollar | $750,000 |
| 1892-S Morgan silver dollar | $630,000 |
| 1901-S Morgan silver dollar | $587,500 |
Rarest Morgan Silver Dollars
Morgan silver dollars are named for their designer, George T. Morgan, and got a bad rap due to record-breaking prices paid at auction. The series was produced at five mints from 1878-1904 and again in 1921. These are among the most historically significant silver dollars and are always hot items.
Fast Fact
There’s somewhat of a mystery over inspiration for the image on the Morgan dollar. It’s said that Morgan found his inspiration from a classic Greek profile for a Philadelphia schoolteacher, Anna Willess Williams, but that has been disputed by some who question the authenticity of that particular story, pointing instead to Morgan’s wife as possibly being the muse behind this coin, beautiful or otherwise.
| Most Valuable Morgan Silver Dollars | Recent Sales Price |
| 1893-S | $2,086,875 |
| 1884-S | $750,000 |
| 1892-S | $630,000 |
| 1901-S | $587,500 |
Morgan silver dollars are $1 in face value, 90% silver, and one of the most collectible coins ever minted. Coin collectors will almost do anything to have a complete collection of them, so if you have one, here is great news for you. Even the lowest-graded Morgan dollars will still sell for the low hundreds, but if you really want to make some real money from one of these rare coins, keep your eyes peeled for some of the most sought-after examples.
1884-S
The San Francisco-minted 1884 Morgan silver dollar isn’t, in and of itself, worth more than any given Morgan dollar, but one that is well preserved just might be. A rare 1884-S PCGS MS68 Morgan silver dollar with a super pedigree and a beautiful but clear patina sold in 2020 for $750,000.
1892-S
The over a million of these Morgan dollars minted in 1892 make it fairly common to find poor graded examples of these at auction or in collections around the world. However, pieces that grade MS65 or better are extremely rare. So much so that it’s estimated that no more than 200 MS63 or better 1892-S coins exist. One such rare coin, an MS68 1892-S, sold at auction through Stack’s Bowers in 2020 for an impressive $630,000.
1893-S
Until 2001, no Morgan silver dollar from 1893 was known among collectors. It had spent years in the same family (the Vermeule). In a curious twist of fate, this still-ungraded coin was slated to be sold at auction on September 11, 2001, when, of course, that disaster intervened and delayed its sale-and, ultimately its sale price.
Years later, the Vermeule Dollar was graded and graded an MS67; one of only two of these dollars grading above an MS65. It sold in 2021 for a record of $2,086,875.
1901-S
According to the Professional Coin Grading Service, the 1901-S is one of the rarest Morgan silver dollars to come into existence in purely mint condition. Early sales of these coins do not accurately reflect their actual rarity. People hadn’t really realized at the time just how unusual the original mint coins were.
Several coin-collecting pros believe that fewer than five examples exist in MS65 or higher condition, making them a lot of dough. The last of these extremely rare coins was sold in 2015 for a little over half a million dollars, or $587,500, to be more specific.
Other Highly Valuable Silver Dollars
While the Morgan silver dollar is the holy grail of all dollar coin enthusiasts, you can still earn money from other silver dollars as well. It all does come down to finding one of the rarest coins in good condition.
Liberty Seated Dollars
Liberty seated dollars are an interesting bunch of U.S. coins minted between the 1830s and 1870s in various batches and designs. They share just about the only thing-to wit, the same image on the face of a woman with her head turned back over her shoulder. Among this group of silver dollars, there are a few real rarities, some of which command higher prices than analogous beat-up Morgan silver dollars.
In fact, one of the most expensive sold in 2003 in a public auction for $1,092,500. It was an 1870-S coin with a mint status one of only 12 in existence. Since rarity is one factor that raises the price of anything, it would only make sense that it fetched a high amount of money. Therefore, if you stumble upon one of these, you might not take home a cool million, but you’ll have something to look forward to. Take it to a reputable coin appraiser and finally be able to pay off that student loan.
1885 Proof Trade Silver Dollar
The 1885 Trade Silver Dollar is an interesting coin from the U.S. Mint, featuring classically inspired designs on both sides. Considered one of the rarest coins ever issued in the history of American currency, only five extremely high-quality proof examples are known to exist. Unlike many collectibles, all five are present and accounted for, and anytime one of them comes to auction, you’re looking at a million-dollar price tag. Most recently, one of them came out in a Heritage Auctions lot and sold for $3,960,000.
Valuable Susan B. Anthony Dollars to Look For Although your parents likely have the Susan B. Anthony ‘silver’ dollars that were minted for three years, 1979-1981 with a random single-year 1999 series thrown in as well, they’re actually not made out of silver. Instead, they’re made out of mostly copper, and what they didn’t have back in the day in the way of value, they’re now making up for. They lack the kind of value of the rarest silver dollars, but since they’re much easier to come by than coins from 100 years before, you can make a quick buck on any of these Susan B. Anthonys.
Rare Susan B. Anthony Dollars Worth Hunting
Although your parents may be most familiar with the Susan B. Anthony ‘silver’ dollars that were minted for three years, 1979-1981 (with a random single-year 1999 series thrown in), they’re not actually made of silver. They’re primarily made of copper, and what they didn’t make up for in value at the time, they are now.
They’re not worth anywhere near the price of the rarest silver dollars, but since they are so much more common than coins a century older, you can easily make some money with any of these Susan B. Anthonys.
1979-P Wide Rim
The ‘wide rim’ Susan B. Anthony dollar is this series from an extremely small mintage of coins that had a wider rim due to the U.S. Mint demands that went through for production. The design stuck after the batch was made and the early run in the 1979-P batch was rather small. Of an estimated 25,000 examples in existence today, only these survive. Circulated coins aren’t worth all that much (about $5-$10) because they have been passed from so many hands and banged around over the years, but the uncirculated ones can bring as much as $6,500.
1979-S Type I and Type II
There is the 1979-S Susan B. Anthony which comes in two varieties, Type I and Type II. Actually, Type II is more scarce and even its clear ‘S’ mintmark makes it resemble the ends that enter each other to make an almost figure 8 on the coin. Given these are much rarer than the Type Is, you can find them selling for $25 or more at auction in low grades and in the mid-100s for higher grades. Likewise, Type Is will sell for about $100-$400 in the best condition (aka highest grades).
Though sold very seldom at auction, there occasionally comes an occurrence in which an error presents itself. Little information on this piece of the 1979 Susan B Anthony dollar was found other than it graded NGC Genuine. In 2021 it sold for an amazing price on eBay: $15,000.
1980-S Proof Repunched Mintmark Dollar
Repunched mintmark coins are fun to collect as you can usually see what is wrong with them before you even need to ask someone else. Normally repunched coins have their mintmarks-the capital D, P, S, etc that you see on coins today-double punched, which causes either a deepening effect or shadow of where they punched the mold over the top of an existing mark. Several 1980-S Proof Susan B. Anthony coins are repunched, and those are significantly more valuable than their regular fancy Proof brethren.
According to PCGS, proof coins from regular 1980-S sell for at least $25-$80. There are no recent auctions for the repunched coins, but if one made it to an auction that was of high quality enough, they would probably go for close to $100 or beyond.
What to Consider in Selling Silver Dollars
If you are a newcomer to the coin-collecting game, you probably have little experience examining coins and viewing where the hidden value lies. Since coin collecting is one of the oldest forms of collecting in the business, there is much to know about the hobby, and plenty of information can help you get started. But if you do not wish to wade through page after page of complicated jargon, consider some basic tips.
Pedigree/provenance helps. Any silver dollar that can trace whose hands it has passed through down the years(provenance) will have additional integrity, particularly for noncirculated coins, and carry a premium value.
Grading is needed. Only the serious coin collector buys a graded coin, and such collectors typically have the largest pockets. Most collectors want PCGS to grade their coins; any certified numismatic grader will do.
Collectors always want Morgan dollars. Coins, like gold and silver, go up and down in value, but one thing that is a constant is that Morgan dollars are always in style. Finding one of these is like picking a winning scratch-off in the coin world.
Not every ‘silver’ dollar is worth a lot. Though there is a very big collection of silver dollars that have been minted all over American history, the age and the fact that it is made of silver don’t make them worthy for every collector. As much as they will always be worth their value in silver, don’t go around spending your money and wasting time getting a coin graded when it won’t amount to more than its face value.
All That Glitters Might Be Silver
All that glitters need not be gold, as these wonderfully prized silver dollars can illustrate. Coin collecting doesn’t carry with it the cool factor it once did, but the price tags alone make sure that you may want to join the bandwagon before it makes a huge comeback.
Conclusion:
Collecting silver dollars isn’t just about financial investment; it’s a way to own a piece of history. The value of these 6 silver dollars highlights the unique factors that make a coin rare and precious. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or new to numismatics, these coins represent the highest caliber in coin collecting. Who knows maybe you’ll discover one of these treasures in your collection someday!
FAQs:
What makes a silver dollar valuable?
Rarity, mint errors, historical context, and condition are key factors in a silver dollar’s value.
How can I tell if my silver dollar is valuable?
Research the coin’s date, mint mark, and check for unique characteristics or errors.
Where can I sell valuable silver dollars?
Reputable coin dealers, auction houses, and online numismatic marketplaces are good options.
Can silver dollars still increase in value over time?
Yes, rare silver dollars can appreciate over time, especially if demand increases among collectors.