Silver dollar coins are their own category of junk silver. The silver dollar coins that were in common circulation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries are the Morgan Dollar and the Peace Dollar.
Each Silver dollar coin contains .7734 troy ounces of silver which is slightly more than the .715 troy ounces per $1 face value of other 90% silver coins.
Silver Morgan Dollars
Morgan Dollar coins are one of the most popular coins amongst collectors. They have a rich history that dates back nearly 150 years.
Morgan Silver Dollars were struck from 1878 until 1904 and again in 1921. The Morgan Dollar coin contains 90% silver. Each has an approximate silver weight of .7734 troy ounces per coin.
The coin was designed by George Morgan, an engraver that worked for the US Mint. The coin was produced following the passage of the Bland-Allison Act. The Bland-Allison Act was a law passed by Congress to help the struggling mining industry at a time when global demand for silver had fallen.
The Bland-Allison Act required the Treasury Department to purchase two to four million dollars worth of silver each month from the private mining industry to be used in the minting of silver dollar coins.
The obverse of the Morgan Silver Dollar portrays a left-facing Lady Liberty with the inscription of LIBERTY included in her hair band. The front face of the coin also includes inscriptions of E PLURIBUS UNUM, which translates to “out of many, one” and the year of minting.
The reverse designs features an eagle spreading it’s wings. The eagle holds 3 arrows in it’s left talon, and an olive branch in it’s right talon. Surrounding the design along the rim of the coin are the inscriptions of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE DOLLAR and IN GOD WE TRUST.
Silver Peace Dollars
Peace Silver Dollars were struck from 1921 until 1935. The Peace Dollar coin contains 90% silver. Each has an approximate silver weight of .7734 troy ounces per coin.
After the First World War the United States began it’s ascension as a world leader. The culture of the country had begun to shift from it’s role in the war to a time of peace and prosperity. A new design for the Silver Dollar Coin was introduced to help portray that feeling.
The obverse portrays a left-facing portrait of Lady Liberty with her lips slightly open. Surrounding the portrait along the edge of the coin are the inscriptions of LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST and the year.
The reverse design shows a Bald Eagle perched on a rock, holding only an olive branch in it’s talons representing peace. Gone from the design are the arrows which represented war. Also included are the inscriptions of PEACE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, ONE DOLLAR.
For coins minted outside of the Philadelphia Mint, the mintmark is shown on the reverse.