Top 15 Most Valuable Silver Dollars

Top 15 Most Valuable Silver Dollars
Posted on August 16, 2024 by BOLD Precious Metals

Do you know that some US dollar coins can value millions? Yes! A low mintage dollar can command a high price depending upon its historical relevance, quality, rarity, and collectors' demand.

This has taken the place of the circulating dollar coins, which the Mint has stopped producing. This makes dollar coins a lot more interesting and profitable.

Nonetheless, not all US dollars are created equal; most are just worth their face value. That is why there is a dire need to learn how to identify the most valuable silver dollars.

In this article, we will be discussing 15 Most Valuable Silver dollars. We gathered some really valuable one-dollar coins after digging through a ton of coins. You could become quite wealthy if you're lucky enough to find these in your pocket change.

    15 Most Valuable Silver Dollars

15) 1803 Proof Draped Bust Silver Dollar

1803 Proof Draped Bust Silver Dollar

There are just four known examples of the 1803 Proof Draped Bust Restrike, making it one of the rarest and most valuable silver dollars. Granted a Proof PF66 grade for three, and one is PF65.

Although these coins were dated 1803 and intended for sophisticated, well-funded collectors who had established a demand for the now-scarce 1803 proof dollars, they were actually produced in the 1850s and 1860s.

The most expensive example, which was up for auction in 2013 at Heritage, brought in a record $851,875. In better grades, these restrikes can sell up to $1 million.

Coin Grade Auction Record
1803 Proof Draped Bust Silver Dollar PCGS PR-66 $851,875

14) 1889-CC Morgan Silver Dollar

1889-CC Morgan Silver Dollar

The only individual to ever finish collecting coins with at least one example of each combination of US coins and mint marks is Louis E. Eliasberg. A coin from his collection is certain to fetch a premium price when it goes up for sale. Additionally, this 1889 Morgan silver dollar with a high grade of MS-68 was produced in Carson City, Nevada.

Only nine coins have been graded higher than this, at MS-69, by experts. This typical silver dollar gains significant value due to its high grade. This coin sold for $881,250 in 2013 at the ANA World's Fair of Money in Chicago, Illinois, at Stack's/Bowers.

Coin Grade Auction Record
1889-CC Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS MS-68 $881,250

13) 1795 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, Off Center

1795 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, Off Center

In 1794, the US began minting silver dollars. On the obverse of the design was an allegorical portrait of Liberty with her hair blowing in the breeze. At the time, coin collectors said she appeared "frightened". The mint changed the design in 1795 to include a more modern image of Lady Liberty.

A total of 203,033 1795 silver dollars were produced, according to mint statistics. Nevertheless, coin dies were used by mint workers until they broke. As a result, coins with a date of 1795 continued to be struck long after 1796. It is thought by numismatic experts that 390,000 silver dollars bearing a date of 1795 were produced. This coin is almost worth $1 million due to its exceptional grade, low mintage, and a patch of rainbow-colored toning on the obverse.

Coin Grade Auction Record
1795 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, Off Center NGC MS66★ $910,625

12) 1802 Proof Draped Bust Silver Dollar

1802 Proof Draped Bust Silver Dollar

Due to its age and rarity, the 1802 Draped Bust Silver Dollar is another important date coin with significant value. It was estimated by numismatic experts that the mint produced about twelve 1802 Proof Silver dollars in 1832. It is thought that there are currently only four of these coins. Due to its exceptional fine detail and excellent preservation, this coin is highly sought-after among silver dollars.

Like other Draped Bust dollars, this one has an eagle on the reverse and Liberty on the obverse. In certain cases, this coin can bring up to $100,000 in value.

Coin Grade Auction Record
1802 Proof Draped Bust Silver Dollar PCGS PR-65 CAM $920,000

11) 1884 Proof Trade Dollar

1884 Proof Trade Dollar

Trade Dollars were never meant to be used for circulation in the US, despite having a size that is comparable to ordinary issue US silver dollars. These coins were produced by the United States between 1873 and 1885, and traders in the China export trade were able to profit from their use.

The introduction of the Morgan silver dollar in 1878 signaled the end of coins intended for trade. The United States Mint produced solely Proof coins for coin collectors between 1879 and 1885. There were just 10 Proof Trade Dollars struck in 1884, according to U.S. Mint archives. The second-lowest mintage of any Trade Dollar is the 1884 Proof.

Coin Grade Auction Record
1884 Proof Trade Dollar PCGS PR-65 $998,750

10) 1885 Proof Trade Dollar

1885 Proof Trade Dollar

Among all American coins, the 1885 Trade Dollar is one of the most valuable silver dollars. There were only five of these Proof coins made by the U.S. Mint. About 25 years after they were minted, numismatists learned of their existence. Scholars surmise that the date of 1885 on these coins does not correspond to their actual minting year.

They think that coin dies removed from storage were used to mint the coins at some point in the early 1900s. Nevertheless, the actual year of production of these coins is not specified in mint documents. Professional numismatists estimate the value of this piece to be above $1 million, although there is another example, rated MS-65 that is estimated to be worth over $3 million.

Coin Grade Auction Record
1885 Proof Trade Dollar NGC PR-62 $1,006,250

9) 1795 Draped Bust Silver Dollar

1795 Draped Bust Silver Dollar

Merely 42,738 silver pieces featuring the Draped Bust design were produced in 1795. This coin's reflective fields, which resemble mirrors, indicate that it was created specifically at the US Mint. Numismatists, however, do not view it as a Proof coin. In order to denote that it was a "special" strike, it has been assigned the label "SP" on its grade. Its nearly flawless state makes it the priciest Draped Bust silver dollar available.

Coin Grade Auction Record
1795 Draped Bust Silver Dollar PCGS SP-66 $1,057,500

8) 1870-S Liberty Seated Silver Dollar

1870-S Liberty Seated Silver Dollar

The remarkably tiny S mint stamp on the 1870 S Seated Liberty silver dollar designates the San Francisco mint, where it was struck. This is one of the most well-known one-dollar coins in American coinage history, despite the oddly small mint mark being regarded as a mistake.

In low-grade uncirculated condition, this coin can bring as much as $450,000; in mint status, it can fetch up to $2 million.

Coin Grade Auction Record
1870-S Liberty Seated Silver Dollar MS-26 $1,092,500

7) 1796 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, Small Date, Small Letters

1796 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, Small Date, Small Letters

Despite the fact that the United States Mint's records show that the mint produced about 80,000 silver dollars in 1796, numismatic experts think the real figure is much lower. The coin dies were hand-sculpted at that historical period by artisans employed by the mint. Mint employees use the dies until they break or degrade.

The amount of coins struck for the year listed in the records does not always match the year that appears on the coins. According to David Bowers, there are a lot fewer than that. This die variant is the rarest of the 1796 Draped Bust silver dollars and features a short date and small letters in the motto.

Coin Grade Auction Record
1796 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, Small Date, Small Letters NGC MS-65 $1,175,000

6) 1866 Proof Liberty Seated Dollar, No Motto

1866 Proof Liberty Seated Dollar, No Motto

In 1866, 725 Proof Liberty Seated silver dollars were struck by the US Mint. The phrase "In God We Trust" was printed on the back of these silver dollars. Scholars surmise that this fantasy currency was created in 1869 or early 1870 by mint employees using relic dies for collector Robert Coulton Davis.

The phrase was absent from the reverse die they utilized. They also produced a quarter and a half dollars in 1866. However, both of these coins missing the phrase on the back. There are just two documented examples that lack the motto. There is one specimen kept in a museum. Thus, for a collector of rare coins, this is the only specimen available.

Coin Grade Auction Record
1866 Proof Liberty Seated Dollar, No Motto NGC PR-63 $1,207,500

5) 1795 Flowing Hair Dollar, 3 Leaves

1795 Flowing Hair Dollar, 3 Leaves

Investing in rare coins has taught us a valuable lesson with this specific coin. More than 160,000 of these coins were produced, according to mint data. Considering the outdated coin minting technique of the period, this was an astounding quantity of coins. The best-known example of any 1795 Flowing Hair silver dollar is this one. In September 2015, Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's sold this coin for $822,500. For the person who bought this coin in 2005, that represents a loss of $442,500!

Coin Grade Auction Record
1795 Flowing Hair Dollar, 3 Leaves PCGS MS-66 $1,265,000

4) 1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, Class III, Adams-Carter Specimen

1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, Class III, Adams-Carter Specimen

Coin merchants Chapman Brothers called the 1804 silver dollar the "King of the U.S. Series" as early as 1885; today, it's known as "The King of Coins." The fifteen known examples of the 1804 Draped Bust silver dollar are divided into three groups.

The U.S. Mint is well recognized for producing these coins in 1834 or later as presentation pieces or as unique gifts to prominent coin collectors. These few coins saw a spike in demand and record-breaking prices thanks to skillful marketing and promotion.

Coin Grade Auction Record
1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, Class III, Adams-Carter Specimen PCGS PR-58 $2,300,000

3) 1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, Class I, Watters-Childs Specimen

1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, Class I, Watters-Childs Specimen

Among the fifteen known coins, this 1804 Draped Bust silver dollar is the best exemplar. These silver dollars were first struck under President Andrew Jackson's orders as gifts for dignitaries and leaders of other countries. This specific coin's provenance dates all the way back to 1834, when it was given to the Sultan of Muscat.

The coin was put up for sale once more in May 2016 at Stack's/Bowers & Sotheby's D. Brent Pogue Collection auction. The bid did not reach the consignor's minimum reserve despite the coin being bid up to $10.81 million (including the 17.5% buyer's fee). Regretfully, this coin has the potential to be the most valuable coin in the world!

Coin Grade Auction Record
1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, Class I, Watters-Childs Specimen PCGS PR-68 $4,140,000

2) 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar

1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar

The United States Mint produced its first dollar coin, the Flowing Hair Silver dollar, in 1886. This coin is very rare and one of less than 120 thought to exist today.

Collectors have shown the greatest interest in the Flowing Hair Silver Dollar, which has a silver plug in the center. It is thought that this coin was produced first in the 1794 dollar coin series.

This specific Flowing Hair Silver dollar is especially rare since no other one has the unusual silver plug. While there is some die misalignment and clashing on many of the 1794 silver dollars, none of them had the central plug missing.

Coin Grade Auction Record
1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar PCGS MS-66+ $4,993,750

1) 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar with Silver Plug

1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar with Silver Plug

The United States Mint's novice artists and staff needed help creating coins for the emerging market. Strong guys manually put blanks into presses using rudimentary machinery and human labor.

To guarantee the correct amount of silver content, each blank was weighed before striking. If not hit firmly enough, overweight blanks were filed down, leaving adjustment marks.

Silver plugs were inserted into underweight blanks to bring them up to standard weight. Impurities in the hand-made alloy, which had a 90% silver and 10% copper composition, produced different silver grades. This coin is distinct from the other 1,758 silver dollars minted in 1794 because it has a silver plug.

Though designed to produce half-dollar-sized coins only, this coin's fine workmanship and flawless condition imply that it may be the first silver dollar ever struck in the United States. It is the world's most valuable silver dollar coin due to its exceptional condition, unique history, and rarity.

Coin Grade Auction Record
1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar PCGS SP-66 $10,016,875

Conclusion

It can be very satisfying to learn about the most valuable silver dollars. Although most dollars are face value, there are some rare mint pieces that in great condition could mean millions. Much of the high value of these coins is tied to historical significance, condition, rarity, and demand from collectors.

By learning how to identify them, you may be surprised and find that you have one piece of hidden treasure in your collection. Watch for the most valuable silver dollars, which means not only money but a piece of interesting history and potential wealth. Happy collecting!


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