How much is a silver dollar worth?
Melt Value and Common Dates
Most silver dollars contain about 0.7734 troy ounces of silver. When silver is $25 per ounce, that's about $19 in melt value. However, common circulated Morgan and Peace dollars typically sell for $25–$40 because of collector demand. Uncirculated common dates can bring $40–$100. The exact price depends on the current silver spot price and the coin's condition.
Silver dollars were minted in several series: Morgan (1878–1921), Peace (1921–1935), and Eisenhower (1971–1978, but these are copper-nickel clad unless they're the 1971–1974 40% silver versions). Eisenhower silver dollars are worth $10–$20 in silver content, while clad ones are often just face value.
- Melt value: ~$20–$30 at recent silver prices
- Common circulated Morgan/Peace: $25–$40
- Uncirculated common: $40–$100
- Eisenhower 40% silver: $10–$20
- Eisenhower clad: $1–$2
Key Dates and Rarities
Some silver dollars are worth far more. The 1893-S Morgan is the key date, with only 100,000 minted, and can sell for $1,000–$10,000+ depending on grade. The 1895 Proof Morgan is rare and worth thousands. The 1928 Peace dollar had a low mintage of 360,649 and is worth $200–$1,000. The 1934-S Peace dollar is also semi-key, worth $100–$500.
Condition and grading matter enormously. A coin graded MS-65 by PCGS or NGC can be worth many times more than the same date in circulated condition. Always check for mint marks and have valuable coins authenticated.
- 1893-S Morgan: $1,000–$10,000+
- 1895 Proof Morgan: $5,000+
- 1928 Peace: $200–$1,000
- 1934-S Peace: $100–$500
- 1879-CC Morgan: $200–$1,000
- 1889-CC Morgan: $500–$5,000
Common mistakes
- Assuming all silver dollars are worth a fortune; many are common.
- Selling for melt value without checking for key dates or mint marks.
- Not realizing that cleaned or damaged coins are worth much less.
