In 1891, the silver dollar being minted was the Morgan Silver Dollar. In spite of that, this coin was in circulation together with previous minted silver dollar coins and also future coins: the Trade Dollar (1878–1885), the Large Head Indian Gold Dollar (1878–1889) and the Peace Dollar (1921).

Historical context

In 1891 the President of United States was the republican Benjamin Harrison (August 20, 1833 – March 13, 1901). He was the 23rd President of the United States (1889–1893). Harrison who was a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio. During the American Civil War, he served as a Brigadier General in the XX Corps of the Army of the Cumberland. After the war he unsuccessfully ran for the governorship of Indiana, and was later appointed to the U.S. Senate from that state.

Harrison was elected to the presidency in 1888, defeating the democrat Grover Cleveland. His administration is most remembered for economic legislation, including the McKinley Tariff and the Sherman Antitrust Act, and for annual federal spending that reached one billion dollars for the first time. Democrats attacked the “Billion Dollar Congress”, and used the issue, along with the growing unpopularity of the high tariff, to defeat the Republicans, both in the 1890 mid-term elections and in Harrison’s bid for re-election in 1892.

He also saw the admittance of six states into the Union. Defeated by Cleveland in his bid for re-election in 1892, Harrison returned to private life in Indianapolis. He later represented the Republic of Venezuela in an international case against the United Kingdom. In 1900, he traveled to Europe as part of the case and, after a brief stay, returned to Indianapolis, where he died the following year from complications arising from influenza. He is to date the only U.S. president from Indiana and the only one to be the grandson of another president.

The additional incumbents in this year were:

Vice President: Levi P. Morton (Republican)
Chief Justice: Melville Fuller
Speaker of the House of Representatives: Thomas Brackett Reed (R-Maine) (until March 4), Charles Frederick Crisp (D-Georgia) (starting December eight)
Congress: 51st (until March 4), 52nd (starting March 4)

Major political and social events

January 20 – Jim Hogg becomes the first native Texan to be governor of that state.
January 29 – Liliuokalani is proclaimed Queen of Hawaii.
March 3 – The International Copyright Act of 1891 is passed by the Fifty-first United States Congress.
March 14 – In New Orleans, a lynch mob storms the Old Parish Prison and lynches 11 Italians who had been found not guilty of the murder of Police Chief David Hennessy.
April 1 – The Wrigley Company is founded in Chicago.
May 5 – The Music Hall in New York (now known as Carnegie Hall) has its grand opening and first public performance, with maestro Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky as the guest conductor.
June 21 – First long-distance transmission of alternating current by the Ames power plant near Telluride, Colorado by Lucien and Paul Nunn.
October 1 – In California, Stanford University opens its doors.

1891 silver dollar value

Like was referred previously, the minted coin during 1891 was the Morgan Silver Dollar. Looking at the closed auctions on eBay for Morgan dollars from 1891, we can establish a price point between and $30 and $70, depending on the quality grade of the coin.

1891 Morgan Dollars

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During this year the US president was Grover Cleveland, the only president in US history to have served two non-consecutive terms: he was presidente between 1885–1889 and 1893–1897. He also was the only president to marry while being president: in June 2nd he married Francis Folsom in the White House.

I was in 1886 that a massive general strike culminated in the establishment of the 8 hour a day work-week. This same year marks the birth of an American icon: Coca-Cola. John Stith Pemberton (July 8, 1831 – August 16, 1888) was a Confederate veteran and an American druggist, and was best known for being the inventor of Coca-Cola, which in his lifetime was used only for medical purposes.

The year of 1886 is at the heart of the Gilded Age, which refers to the era of rapid economic and population growth in the US during the post-Civil War and post-Reconstruction eras of the late 19th century. The term “Gilded Age” refers to the process of gilding an object with a superficial layer of gold and is meant to make fun of ostentatious display while playing on the term “golden age”.

The Gilded Age is most famous for the creation of a modern industrial economy. During this period, the US economy grew at the fastest rate in its history. A national transportation and communication network was created, the corporation became the dominant form of business organization, and a managerial revolution transformed business operations.

In September of this year, after almost 30 years of fighting, Apache leader Geronimo surrenders with his last band of warriors to General Nelson Miles at Skeleton Canyon in Arizona, marking the end of the Indian Wars. Though outnumbered, Geronimo fought against both Mexican and United States troops and became famous for his daring exploits and numerous escapes from capture from 1858 to 1886.

On average, looking in the last sales that occurred in the online auction website eBay, the 1886 silver dollar value is between $26.99 and $160. The 1886 Morgan Silver dollar sold at $160 was a San Francisco Mint,  uncirculated coin in excellent condition. The lowest value was a circulated coin with some visible scratches on the Eagle side.

1886 Morgan Silver Dollars

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The year of 1904 symbolizes the manufacturing of the final Morgan Dollar. Up to 1921 there wasn’t the manufacturing of a single silver dollar. The need for silver dollars was low and there was no necessity for any kind of supplemental processing. A law called the Pittman Act and the wish for a coin to memorialize World Peace after the ending of WWI in 1918 made way for the 1921 Peace Silver Dollar to be produced.

The completely new silver coin, developed to commemorate Peace just after the conclusion of the War, started to be built only in 1921. Nevertheless the fact is that the world war had terminated nearly 3 years before: the Armistice was signed on the 11th of November in 1918 (“eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month”), as well as the Versailles Treaty was signed on the 28th of June in 1919. The main reason seemed to be that an isolationist faction in the United States Senate, driven by Boston Republican Henry Cabot Lodge, obstructed the actual approval of the Versailles Treaty later in 1919, primarily on the provision that America might go into the brand new League of Nations, the creation of President Woodrow Wilson. Wilson declined to give up about the problem, forecasting that an additional conflict could follow within just two decades in the event that every key countries didn’t invest in a global peace-keeping organization. The problem continued to be in limbo till after the election of President Warren G. Harding, when our elected representatives approved the Knox-Porter Resolution in June of 1921, correctly another peace treaty involving America and also the defeated Central Powers. The Morgan silver dollar was utilized more than the necessary two-and-a-half decades demanded legally, therefore there were no necessary laws necessary to substitute the coin with a brand new style.

Whilst people belief would be a powerful encouraging element for the development of the peace silver dollars, it was not really the only real cause these were produced. In 1918, a distinctive regulation, known as the Pittman Act was created. In a nutshell, regulations obliged the federal government to melt around 350 million silver dollars. After that, it needed to be transformed into bullion and marketed or utilized to product additional silver mintage. Legislation was targeted at assisting the silver exploration business above all else. The US Mint managed to melt 270 million silver dollars. Several were bought from bullion form to Uk authorities which needed the actual money to assist them to handle an emergency occurring in India.

The known Pittman Act required 350,000,000 current Morgan Dollars to get melted for bullion as well as for Congress to buy the same quantity of silver from United States mines at the preset price of one an ounce. This silver was to use to produce a similar quantity of brand new silver dollars, and the resulting twenty three cent variance for each buck being regarded as a financial help for the nation’s silver suppliers.

In order to commemorate the belated occasion, a commemorative United States Peace silver dollar was suggested and rapidly sanctioned by our lawmakers. Even though George T. Morgan (author of the Morgan silver dollar) carried on being the United States Mint’s Chief Engraver, a design and style contest was started to everyone. The creators for the Lincoln cent, Walking Liberty half dollar and Standing Liberty quarter just about all sent in Peace dollar designs, however the champion turned out to be an Italian immigrant called Anthony di Francisci, a sculptor and medalist that had earlier come up with US “Maine Centennial” half buck of 1920.

The model to the Liberty image ended up being his spouse Teresa. The high spires of Liberty’s overhead to some degree look like the ones from the Statue of Liberty, which had significantly moved the happy couple as soon as they came into New York Harbor while on an immigrant vessel. The emblematic spires are echoed over the opposite facet as the strong sun rays of a brand new daybreak behind the ever vigilant peacekeeping American Eagle, along with “PEACE” written over the mountain rock beneath. This ended up being the sole design to possess that theme. From the initial style, the Eagle was over a damaged blade to represent the finish of conflict (“the war to end all wars”, as Wilson had named it). However arguments came about that the damaged blade could possibly express some weakness, so Morgan replaced a peace branch in its spot.

The style was unquestionably diverse from prior styles in a pair of significant ways. 1st, his representation of LIBERTY presented left alternatively of right like she does in the Morgan Dollar and Barber coins of the period, and she dons a crown of sun rays all-around her head. The Eagle is resting together with wings collapsed over the reverse, alternatively than in flight or with wings unfolded as with prior coin styles. The Eagle is standing on a mound having the term PEACE in it, along with sun rays stretching from the mound. Probably the most unique distinction ended up being the relief of the coin. Being an artist of medals DeFrancisci utilized the high relief style that a medal would certainly have, one thing not yet attempted on a United States coin style.

As soon as the Peace design and style was prepared, production of Morgans ended up being halted and approximately one million 1921 Peace Dollars were minted in the Philadelphia mint. It was the sole calendar year that this silver coin wasn’t produced at least in one of the additional two branch USA mints, helping to make this particular 1921 silver dollar the only real design not to have a mint symbol. In following years the mint mark appeared in the opposite face below the Eagle’s end feathers. The silver coins ended up being really elaborate mainly because of the high relief, however this also made them hard to pile and the style ended up being altered to lower relief in 1922 and after that the silver coins had a regular low relief. In 1928, the silver coin halted in manufacturing because the prerequisite was attained, and considering the starting of the Depression, all these silver coins weren’t required. starting in 1934, the Peace Silver Dollar was manufactured for 2 extra years.

The US always had and will always have an essencial role in the entire world, beeing the primary guardian of world Peace. North american ideals and principles of virtue, freedom and prosperity are all reflected in the Peace Silver Dollar‘s gorgeous arte deco design and style, even though it is just a collection piece. There are actually several justifications to make the 1921 Peace Silver Dollar a remarkably coveted coin and an absolute must have to all United States coin collector: 1921 was the Peace Dollar‘s first production year, the unique art deco, the high relief layout and of course the small quantity produced. The design was halted after merely seven years in 1928 because of the requirements of the Pittman Act being satisfied. The silver coin made a limited reappearance in 1934 and 1935 until being once again discontinued. That was the last authentic Silver Dollar design in the Us, with the “silver coins” identified as Eisenhower and Susan B Anthony Dollars with no silver in their alloy.

1921 silver dollars

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A pleasurable and risk-free way to begin our own investment are silver coins, which make an outstanding alternative of investment. One of the dilemmas is to recognize how much your coins are worth, once you begin to collect them. It is critical to know this so you can make the most well informed choices possible.

There are several aspects of a coin and specifically of silver coins that influence the valuation of your coins such as: the percentage of the silver, the type of coin, the present price of silver and of course, the coin state. Even before you are an expert on the topic, you can always use these straightforward tips to assist you on the job of finding the genuine value of the coins you are about to buy:

Quantity of silver – This is in fact very clear, but coins with high percentage of silver have more value then the ones with less level of silver. As a matter of fact, there are a number of coins, like the Silver Eagles, that are constantly goods very sought after, due to their substantial amount of silver: a full ounce. Yet another coin that in most cases appeals to a big quantity of investors are the silver dollars that were minted before 1965, also due to their large percent of silver in its alloy: about 90%. This means that the alloy employed to produce the coin is an aspect to really take into attention. For example, silver dollar coins built in the 1970s merely contain 40 percent silver. This poor alloy in silver tends to make these coins a poor choice for the investors due to the reality that they cannot extract a high quantity of silver (merely 40% of the coins complete weight). It is most effective to search for silver dollar coins minted in or earlier than 1964 or Silver Eagles.

Antiquity and uniqueness – If the coin you are pondering to buy has a substantial quantity of silver and on top of that is additionally very distinctive, these two aspects combined translate into a larger value for the potencial investor. Early dollars, those minted in 1840 or before, are considerably less common and will sell for hundreds of dollars. Less scarce silver dollar coins worth about $5- $10, witch is definitely higher then the value minted in the coin ($1), but a lot less then the earlier example, due to the frequence we can obtain one in the marketplace. This is the circumstance with the Morgan Dollars that were produced between 1878 and 1904.

Current price – in the event that you have doubts in relation to the coin valuation, try to know the actual portion of silver the coin possesses in its alloy, and based on the silver present-day selling price you will easily know the bare minimum value you can get for that coin. On a significant quantity of times, the value of the silver dollar coins are a primary consequence of the amount of silver they contain after being refined. Thus, those with bigger silver contents will be worth far more. Always Validate the silver value on the commodities market previously to any transaction,

Coin handling state – Coins that had a natural existence, that were used as cash, have circulated a lot and therefore have lost some of the silver it initially had. This can appear a small information, but turns uncirculated coins into more valueable then the circulated ones. Reduce usage as much as you may by lessening handling and keeping in an air-tight package.

What is the most beneficial coin to put our money in? If we can only opt for one coin, the one once coins are invariably a good and reliable decision thanks to their high content of silver. Their value might of course fluctuate as the market silver selling price moves up and down (a great deal more up then down!). These sort of coins do not have their dollar value engraved in them, their are stamped with the coin’s weight. It’s very uncomplicated to liquidate these coins and it’s at the same time fairly possible that if you wait long enough, their value will certainly grow noticeably in a relative short term period.

The investment in Silver Dollars is a decent preference if you are looking to broaden your investment alternatives and at the same time the quest for priceless coins can be a enjoyable recreation. Having said that, if you are aiming for a fast buck, this is not your finest selection, simply because this calls for time and determination to understand all the details.

Silver Dollar Values

There are very different kinds of coin collections: we can pick a Country and collect coins from that specific Country, or we could choose an total Continent for instance. One more choice is to select a single kind of coin and solely collect those: silver dollar coins, for instance. Please note that these coins are rare to come across and consequently one should pick those that increase in value over time. Anyone can conveniently discover silver coin values from the Web, which is an edge of the silver dollars over some other coins.

There are particular silver dollar coins, like the Morgan Dollars, that will always be a reliable bet and for that reason they really should always be an important coin in your collection. The Morgan Dollars always have a very good value. Along with the Morgan Dollars we can list the Peace Silver Dollars, as these are also silver coins that usually possess a good value. If you prefer to be on the safe side, these two types of silver dollars are a good and secure solution as their values are at all times very well identified and up to date on the web. This way you can easily diminish the related risk with this type of investment decision.

Morgan Dollars are such a special coin, that they should have our close attention.

Morgan SIlver Dollars: coach your children to collect them!

In 1904 the Morgan Silver Dollars stopped being produced. In the course of 30 consecutive years (commencing in 1874), they were manufactured and were rather abundant in circulation. More Morgan Silver Dollars were built in 1921, following an increased level of silver owned by the federal government. Contrary to what happens to most of the coins, that get their name after a politician or a prominent business man, the Morgan Silver Dollars were named after the creator who brought them to life. In the years before the Morgan Dollars were built and put directly into circulation, the coins utilized for trade (specially with far East countries), had been the Seated Liberty Silver Dollar and also Silver trade coins. These coins were manufactured with .77344 troy ounce of silver.

At the same time that the Morgan Silver Dollars were created, there was a silver strike in Nevada, the region with big history in silver exploration. Like was said before, in 1921 the federal government had substantial levels of silver in the federal deposits, and because of that decided to mint aditional coins. These 1921 silver dollars grew to be more valuable and popular then the ones built in the previous period. Collectors and investors both equally fully understand that the importance of these coins is far higher than any monetary compensation.

There is a particular story about a man who lived a life as if he was broke, but collected Morgan Silver Dollars during his entire life. After he passed away, he had left an estate worth about 100 million dollars and among that massive wealth was a treasure of 400 bags filled with Morgan SIlver Dollars. In each and everyone of them were an amazing 1000 coins. Throughout his life this man collected all these coins at their face value (1 dollar), but when this fantastic treasure was discovered, the coins were sold for 7 million dollars! The fact that this was the largest known collection in the world gave it an iconic status without paralel.

The Morgan Silver Dollars were produced so many years and under so many circumstances that we can find different coins with high value. Some of them, for example, were minted with a “cc” mark, that makes them unique and very valuable. This small “cc” mark in the Morgan Silver Dollars is an indication of the location where they were produced: the Carson City Mint. This detail transforms these coins in scarce items and because of that they are more valuable then other Morgan Silver Coins. Over the years some Morgan Dollars became almost like holly grails because of their scarcity in the market, like the 1889 cc, the 1893 and the 1895. If you come across any of these Morgan Dollars, you will be adding a good item to your collection.

The Morgan Silver Dollar is currently just a collector’s item, but can be a wonderful investment for those who get hold of the ideal coins, or enough of the coins. The lucky few who are driven and resourcefull enough to find some of the rare coins will have on their hands a collection item that will make it’s owner a significant profit if and when he decides to sell it. Taking this idea to an extreme, with the right investments and some luck, a focused coin collector and trader, could live a confortable life just doing this activity. Everybody who started out a collection, coins, stamps or something else, know the pleasure and joy one can achieve with the quest and when a precious item is found. Even though the investment in coins is a very good option, there’s still a great deal of individuals who collect Morgan Silver Dollars only as an hobby. An amazing and gratifying hobby.

1921 Silver Dollars

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1. Definition

Querying the dictionary definitions apply Collecting the act of gathering objects of the same species. In my opinion this definition falls far short of its real meaning. We complete this definition is saying Collecting together, with passion, objects of the same species always looking to study each piece and whether it lies in its historical context – the socio – economic.

2. Knowing what to collect

How to start to collect coins? A great journey begins with one small step. A large collection begins with a few coins. Your collection can start with a few coins that inherited or found in the bottom drawer of some long forgotten chest.

However over the initial enthusiasm should begin to ask yourself what kind of collection that motivates him more because there are coins for centuries and vast countries of all shapes and sizes, of many different metals and alloys, sometimes a collection as the name implies is a set of objects of the same species then the more specific, organized and thorough is his collection will be more valued.

Do not try to collect coins in general, look what motivates and within their collecting tastes:

• For dates or ages
• By Country
• For metals (Gold, Silver, Copper Alloys)
• By subject (fauna, flora, boats, celebrities, sports, architecture, weapons, arms, etc.)
• Commemorative
• Coin types (square, pierced, etc.)
• Kings, emperors and other rulers

3. Organize and Store

There are many ways to pack the collections of coins, because there are numerous articles on the market to file their own currencies from albums, boxes, wells, capsule up to the velvet lined trays. All these ways of saving the coins are valid, and select the file type should depend on the taste and size of the portfolio of each, but I must emphasize that the most important is not to have the collections of coins in shoeboxes or biscuits or bags  mixed with each other. The key is that the coins are isolated without rubbing or friction, and must also be protected from the air through the alveoli or a varnish suitable for coins. Nor should grab coins putting fingers in the field of currency, but by the board without leaving fingerprints. One should also avoid keeping the coins in direct contact with plastic sheets for some of the albums are chemical compounds that deteriorate after a while the coins.

Another factor to bear in mind and it never hurts to remember: do not clean and do not use brightening materials in your coins. They are not decorative items that need to be always shining. Polishing wear the coin (whether with vinegar ammonia, acetone, detergents, mustard, Coca-Cola, Martini or clean metal, straw or scotch-britt-of-steel) it will remove the natural shine of coins and even some can remove the patina devaluing it. Should only be washing the coins that are too dirty that it is impossible to identify themselves and even then only with mild soap and water after being dried and stored in wells or other protection system to air friction and no chemical compounds that interact with currencies (eg some plastics oxidize coins).

4. Support material

A coin collector must always have one or two catalogs of coins date to check prices as the state of conservation and their stocks before making their purchases. Make several visits to several dealers before deciding. Gather enough information before deciding to buy some scarce or rare coin because the false statements also exist in Numismatics. Do not buy on impulse.

Tweezers to hold coins, a magnifying glass, various measures of alveoli, albums, and their sheets or packing boxes and a friend or someone more experienced than yourself, to go to exhibitions or shops in order to prevent unscrupulous traders.

Books, clubs, associations, fairs, exhibitions, websites, forums, catalogs and other experienced collectors are all ways to gain knowledge and develop appropriately their collection of coins. Do not ever stop to look for information because you never know everything, especially if you’re willing to learn.

5. Classify and evaluate

You can sort your coins and should use coin catalogs and look for the description of the coin and make attention to the conservation status of the same, so you can evaluate it better.

The catalog is an essential tool in Numismatics to know what he’s worth a penny, but not 100% reliable. One should compare with other price classes, also check the markets, companies, internet and other collectors to analyze sales prices, as in some coins there are differences in price, by default and by excess. Another aspect to consider is that the coins are not the older the more valuable. What does the value or price of a currency is the rarity of it and the law of supply and demand!

6. Expand the collection

The best of Numismatics is the pleasure of looking for new pieces to our collection of knowledge and deepen existing ones. And coins are everywhere we just have to be aware of the opportunities and they appear.

We all have friends or relatives working abroad or going on holiday elsewhere, acquaintances who came from overseas, someone who found a coin in the backyard or in a pit and we just have to know the interest, not commercial, we have in them. When you have repeated coins you may sell or exchange with other collectors thus increasing the chances of increasing his collection. You can also buy coins at fairs, shops, or auctions.

It doesn’t matter how many coins you have neither the value of them. The most important is feeling that you have the will and persistence that takes to collect them.

As someone said “collecting coins is to learn to play”.

Collect!

Coin Collection Suplies

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In December 2005, Congress decided to create a new series of $1 coins which will honor the former U.S. presidents. In 2007, Presidential coins of four different designs were produced. Another four designs will be produced each year, honoring the Presidents in order of service. (Grover Cleveland will be on two coins, since he served two non-consecutive terms). The Presidential $1 Coin Act is intended to create renewed interest in the coin like that seen during the 50 State Quarters program.

At least one third of all dollar coins produced are still Sacagawea coins, with the remaining coins making up the four presidential coins annually. Under federal law (31 U.S.C. § 5112), no coins may be issued featuring a living president, or a president who died less than two years earlier. The program will run until at least 2016 with the coin commemorating Ronald Reagan, but may continue longer depending on the longevity of the currently living former presidents, and the longevity of the current president or presidents yet to be elected.

The presidential dollar coin is the same size and composition as the Sacagawea dollar. “In God We Trust”, “E Pluribus Unum”, the issue year, and the mint mark appear on the edge. The fact that these national mottoes appear on the edge has caused some conservative commentators to decry the designs. The first dollar, honoring George Washington, was released into circulation on February 15, 2007. However, H.R. 2764 became law on December 26, 2007 which moved “In God We Trust” from the edge to the obverse.

Minting errors

On March 8, 2007, the United States Mint announced that, on February 15, 2007, an unknown number of George Washington Presidential $1 Coins were released into circulation without their edge inscriptions (the U.S. mottoes, “In God we trust” and “E pluribus unum”, the coin’s mint mark, and its year of issuance; i.e. E PLURIBUS UNUM  •  IN GOD WE TRUST  •  2007   X (where X is either P or D).

Ron Guth, of the Professional Coin Grading Service, estimates that at least 50,000 coins were released without the edge inscriptions. The first such coin discovered was sold on eBay for $600, while later coins were selling for $40–$60, as of late March 2007. Because one of the inscriptions missing from the coins is the motto “In God we trust”, some articles on the subject have referred to them as “Godless dollars.” Counterfeit “Godless dollars” have been produced with the edge lettering filed off. These specimens are worth face value.

Also, John Adams Presidential Dollars have been discovered with plain edges. They are lesser in quantity than George Washington plain-edge dollars, making them rarer, thus more expensive. A more frequently encountered edge lettering error for the John Adams dollar is a coin with doubled edge lettering. This error occurs when a coin passes through the edge lettering machine twice.

Most examples of the doubled-edge-letter John Adams dollar are from the Philadelphia Mint (Denver Mint issues are comparatively scarce). They are seen in two varieties: 1) with both edge lettering inscriptions reading in the same direction, called “overlapped”, and 2) with the two inscriptions running in opposite directions—i.e., inverted or upside-down relative to one another—called “inverted”.

In early March 2007, a Colorado couple found a dollar coin that was not stamped on either side, missing the portrait of George Washington and the Statue of Liberty.

Some of the coins have the words on the rim struck upside down (president face up). These are not minting errors, but rather a variation created by the minting process. Such upside-down coins have been sold on auction websites for greater than their face value, even though they represent roughly 50% of the minted population.

This article about the 1921 silver dollar was written with the help of Wikipedia.

Presidential Dollars

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With the passage of the Native American $1 Coin Act on September 20, 2007, the U.S. Mint began designing a series of Sacagawea dollars with modified reverses to further commemorate “Native Americans and the important contributions made by Indian tribes and individual Native Americans to the development of the United States and the history of the United States.” Four designs were to be minted, each for one year from 2009 to 2012.

The first Native American series coin was released in January 2009 and had a reverse that depicted a Native American woman sowing seeds of the Three Sisters, symbolizing the Indian tribes’ contributions to agriculture.

Like the Presidential Dollar, the year of issue, mint mark, and motto E Pluribus Unum are found on the edge of the coin instead of on the obverse or reverse, which allows for more room for the design. Unlike the Presidential $1 coins from before 2009, “In God We Trust” remains on the obverse and the vacant space on the edge lettering has been taken up by thirteen stars, symbolizing the Thirteen Colonies. The act passed by Congress requires that 20% of the total dollar coins minted in any year during the Presidential $1 Coin Program be Sacagawea dollars bearing the new design.

In January 2010, the second reverse design in the series was released which has the theme of “Government” and the “Great Tree of Peace”. The 2010 Sacagawea reverse depicts the Hiawatha Belt and five arrows bound together representing unity with the inscription “Haudenosaunee”, a synonym for the Iroquois Confederacy meaning “People of the Longhouse”.

Another inscription is found along the lower edge of the reverse spelling “Great Law of Peace”, an English translation of Gayanashagowa, the Iroquois Confederacy constitution. The Great Law of Peace was used as a model for the Constitution of the United States.

The four links on the belt are meant to symbolize four of the five Nations of the Iroquois Conferderacy, namely the Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga and Seneca Nations. The Eastern White Pine tree in the middle of the belt represents the fifth Nation, the Onondaga, and is a depiction of the Tree of Peace.

This article about the 1921 silver dollar was written with the help of Wikipedia.

Sacagawea dollars

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The Sacagawea dollar was authorized by Congress in 1997 because the supply of Anthony dollars, in inventory since their last mintage in 1981, was soon expected to be depleted. Delays in ramping up Sacagawea dollar production led to a final 1999-dated mintage of Susan B. Anthony dollars. As predicted by Coin Coalition representatives at Congressional hearings on the United States $1 Coin Act of 1997, the government’s decision not to eliminate the U.S. one dollar bill prevented the Sacagawea dollar from being widely circulated.

While dollar coins are used infrequently in general commerce, they are used in place of tokens in some areas and are given as change in many United States Postal Service stamp vending machines, creating a relatively small but significant demand.

The obverse was designed by artist Glenna Goodacre, using Shoshone Randy’L He-dow Teton as a model for Sacagawea.

There are approximately 1 billion Sacagawea coins in circulation and about 250 million more in reserve. The United States Mint greatly reduced production of Sacagawea dollars after the 2001 minting, citing sufficient inventory. As of 2006, the dollar is still being minted for collectors, and is available in uncirculated rolls, mint sets, and proof Sets, but has not been released for general circulation since 2001.

The Mint took great care to create the coin with the same size, weight, and electromagnetic properties as the Anthony dollar, but with a golden color. Unlike most other coins in circulation, the selected alloy has a tendency to tarnish quite severely in circulation, as is the case with most brasses, resulting in a loss of the golden “patina”. While some consider the blackening an undesired quality, the Mint suggests the uneven tarnishing effect gives the coins an “antique finish” that “accentuate[s] the profile and add[s] a dimension of depth to the depiction of Sacagawea and her child”.

The coin featured a plain edge through 2008, but starting in 2009 incused lettering was applied. The year and mint mark moved from the coin’s obverse (front) to its edge.

As of 2007, dollar coins are not widely encountered in commerce in the United States, except in vending machines for rides on mass transit, some pay and display machines, and U.S. Postal Service stamp vending machines, which give the coins as change; and at some casinos, where they are used in slot machines. Most vending machines and parking meters have been redesigned, however, to accept dollar coins for purchase over a quarter-dollar. The Sacagawea dollar has achieved popularity in Ecuador, where the US dollar is also the official currency.

This article about the 1921 silver dollar was written with the help of Wikipedia.

Sacagawea dollars

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From 1971 to 1978, the U.S. Mint issued dollar coins with the obverse depicting Dwight D. Eisenhower and the reverse the insignia of the Apollo 11 moon landing, both designed by Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro. The 1976 Bicentennial commemorative design, produced in 1975 and 1976, featured the Liberty Bell and the Moon on the reverse (designed by Dennis R. Williams), while retaining the Eisenhower obverse.

The Eisenhower dollars minted for general circulation contained no silver or gold, but were instead composed of the same copper-nickel clad composition used for the dime, quarter, and half dollar. This made the circulation coins extremely resistant to wear and, like the smaller denominations, they still retain a good deal of shine even when subject to mass usage. From 1971 through 1976 the Mint also produced dollars composed of 40% silver aimed at the collector market.

The coins were never very popular, primarily due to their large size and weight which made them inconvenient to carry and the fact that very few vending machines were designed to accept them. They saw the greatest use in casinos, and one-dollar tokens in United States casinos still approximate the size and weight of the coins. Prior to the withdrawal of the coins, which remain legal tender (and are often still available at banks, by request[citation needed]), many casinos did not strike their own tokens, but instead used the Eisenhower dollar.

Susan B. Anthony dollar (1979–1981; 1999)

The Anthony clad dollar.

From 1979 to 1981, and again in 1999, the Mint produced Anthony Dollars, depicting Susan B. Anthony, the first non-fictitious woman portrayed on circulating U.S. coinage. (Many earlier circulating coins featured images of women, but the women depicted were all non-specific representations of Liberty. Spain’s Queen Isabella was portrayed on the 1893 Columbian Exposition quarter dollar, but it was not intended as a circulating coin, although some did circulate.) The Anthony dollars, like the Eisenhower dollars, were made from a copper-nickel clad. The 1981 coins were issued for collectors only, but occasionally still show up in circulation.

The Anthony dollar resembled the quarter in size. It was quickly discontinued, but resurrected in 1999 when Treasury reserves were low, and the Sacagawea dollar was still a year away from production. While reserves of the coins were initially high, the coins were in demand to be used as change in vending machines, most often in transit systems and post offices.

This dollar is often referred to as a “Suzy” or “Susie”; another variation is to refer to the coin as a “Susan B” or “Susie/Suzy B”.

This article about the 1921 silver dollar was written with the help of Wikipedia.

Eisenhower Dollars

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The story of 1921 silver dollar and other coins continues:  Release of dollars by the US Treasury – the GSA sale.

Because of the size and weight of the dollar coins, they circulated minimally throughout their history, except in the West (especially at casinos in the early to mid 20th century, where they were commonly used both at the tables and at slot machines.) As a result, the coins were generally shipped to Washington and stored in the vaults of the US Treasury; at times these stores numbered into the hundreds of millions.

They were very popular as Christmas gifts, however, and from the 1930s to the early 1960s, many bags were annually released to banks nationwide to be distributed as presents. In November 1962, during this annual distribution, it was discovered that there were some rare and valuable dates, still sealed in their original mint bags, all in uncirculated condition, among the millions of dollar coins still in the Treasury vaults. Collectors/investors/dealers lined up to purchase them in $1,000 bags, trading silver certificates for the coins.

Before this event, the great rarity of the Morgan series was 1903-O, which was by far the most expensive of the entire set. It was discovered that there were millions of this specific date and mint in the Treasury vaults; an estimated 84% of the entire mintage sat in these bags, untouched for 60 years, all in uncirculated condition. While still relatively expensive in circulated grades, uncirculated examples can be had for a modest amount over common dates.

On March 25, 1964, Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon announced that Silver Certificates would no longer be redeemable for silver dollars. Subsequently, another act of Congress dated June 24, 1967, provided that Silver Certificates could be exchanged for silver bullion for a period of one year, until June 24, 1968.

Following this, the Treasury inventoried its remaining stock of dollar coins, and found approximately 3,000 bags containing 3 million coins. Many of the remaining coins were Carson City mint dollars, which even then carried a premium. The coins were placed in special hard plastic holders and the General Services Administration (GSA) was given authorization to sell them to the public in a series of mail-bid sales.

Five sales were conducted in 1973 and 1974, but sales were poor, and the results unspectacular. There was much complaining among the coin buying public, many stating that the United States Government should not be in the “coin business”, especially considering that the government had spent little more than a dollar to mint and store each coin. After these sales, more than a million coins were still left unsold.

These sat again until 1979-1980, where, amidst an extraordinarily volatile precious metals market, the remaining coins were sold under chaotic conditions. The GSA, having published minimum bids in November 1979, announced on January 2, 1980, that those minimum bids were no longer valid, and that prospective bidders would have to “call in” to a toll free number to get current minimum bids.

Then, on February 21, 13 days after the bidding process officially began, the maximum number of coins per bidder was changed from 500 to 35. Many bidders, under these confusing conditions, ended up with no coins at all. Complaints again flooded in to Congress, but the damage had already been done, and the last silver dollars held by the United States Treasury were gone.

Over the years, many of these GSA dollars have been broken out of their special holders for purposes of grading or otherwise, and now GSA dollars still in the unbroken original holders carry a small premium. Some third party grading companies have begun to grade coins still in their GSA holders, as a means of preservation, though this is not without controversy.

This article about the 1921 silver dollar was written with the help of Wikipedia.

GSA sale Dollars

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