United States Silver Dollar and One Dollar (part 1.)

(1794 - 1921)

The silver dollar was authorized by Congress on April 2, 1792. Weight and fineness were specified at 416 grains and .8924 fineness.  The first issues appeared in 1794, and until 1804 all silver dollars had the value stamped on the edge; HUNDRED CENTS ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT.  After a lapse in coinage of the silver dollar during the period of 1804 through 1835, coins were made with either plain or reeded edges and the value was placed on the reverse.

The weight was changed by the law of January 18, 1837 to 412 1/2 grains, .900 fineness.  The coinage was discontinued by the Act of February 12, 1837, and reauthorize by the Act of February 28, 1878.  The dollar was again discontinued after 1935, and since then only base metal pieces have been coined for circulation.

Flowing Hair Type (1794 - 1795)

Many varieties exist because early dies were each individually hand made.  Blanks are made and weighed before the dollars are struck and overweight pieces were filed to remove excess silver. 

Draped Bust Type (1795 - 1804)

The small eagle as seen above, was used on pieces coined in 1795 to 1798.  And the Heraldic Eagle design change, as seen on the half dollar, and quarter, and other denominations, was used from 1798 to 1804.

Seated Liberty (1840 - 1873)

Starting in 1849, silver dollars were issued for general circulation; but by spring 1853 the silver content of such pieces was worth more than their face value, and later issues were not seen in circulation but were used mainly in export trade.  This situation continued through the 1860s.  The familiar seated liberty and eagle was accepted for this design, was also used on other denominations with similar dates.  This coin from 1840 to 1865 bare no motto.  The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was later added and used from 1866 to 1873, this addition of the motto was also done on all silver denominations in 1866.

Trade Dollar (1873 - 1885)

This coin was issued for circulation in the Orient to compete with dollar-sized coins of other countries.  Many pieces that circulated in the Orient were counterstamped with Oriental characters, known as chop marks.  They were legal tender in the United States, but when silver prices declined, Congress repealed the provision and authorized the Treasury to limit coinage export demand.  In 1887, the Treasury redeemed all Trade dollars that were not mutilated.  The law authorizing Trade dollars was replaced in February 1887.

Morgan (1878 - 1921)

The coinage law of 1873 made no provision fot the standard silver dollar.  During the lapse in coinage of this denomination, the gold dollar became the unit coin, and the Trade dollar was used for commercial transactions with the Orient.

Resumption of coinage of the silver dollar was authorized by the Act of February 28, 1878, known as the Bland-Allison Act.  The weight (412 1/12 grains) and fineness (.900) were to conform with the Act of January 18, 1837.

Coinage of the silver dollar was suspended after 1904, when demand was low and bullion supply exhausted.  Under the Pittman Act of 1918, 270,232,722 silver dollars were melted, and later, in 1921, coinage of the silver dollar was resumed.  The Morgan design, with some slight refinements, was employed untill the new Peace design was adopted later in that year.

Look for part 2 of my ollar Identification Guide.

Check out and look for my other Identification Guides, on other United States Mint denominations.  Half-Cent, Large Cent, Small Cent, 2,3&20 Cents, Half-Dimes, Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, Half Dollars....   Silver and Gold Coins....    I think you get the picture.  Have fun and enjoy the hobby of collecting coins.