Coin Collector Guide

1921-1928  &  1934-1935 The Silver Peace Dollar was originally proposed to be a commemorative coin issued to memorialize with the ending of World War I; however the final decision was made to issue the Silver Peace Dollar as a circulating coin. The coin, which got its name from having the word “peace” imprinted at the bottom of the coin’s reverse, was designed by Anthony de Francisi. The replacement to the Morgan Silver Dollar, the Silver Peace Dollar was struck from 1921 until 1928, then after a pause of six years it was minted again in 1934 and 1935. The Silver Peace Dollar was briefly minted again in 1965 (bearing the date 1964) but no examples were ever released and eventually melted down.  Containing 0.77344 troy ounces of silver, the Silver Peace Dollar was the last...

1878-1904 & 1921 The Morgan Silver Dollar, which was named after its designer, George T. Morgan, was minted from 1878 – 1904 and then again for one year in 1921. Each Morgan Silver Dollar has a finesse of .900 which gives it 0.77344 troy ounces, or 24.057 grams of silver. The coin was commissioned after the Bland-Allison Act was passed; which called for the US Treasury Department to buy large amounts of silver, and strike it into coins. This was at a time when the cost of silver was very low due to the Comstock Lode silver strike in Nevada; which to this day is the largest silver strike in history. The Morgan Silver Dollar was minted up to 1904 when there was a large supply of the dollars in circulation and a shortage of silver bullion. Finally in 1918 the Pittman act was passed...

1986 – Present The American Silver Eagle was first produced by the U.S. Mint in November of 1986. This coin contains 9.999% pure silver and although it bears a One Dollar face value it has never been circulated nor has it ever been available at face value. The American Silver Eagle is an ideal way to collect silver as it is recognized and trusted around the world for its silver content. The American Silver Eagle has been minted at three different mints; Philadelphia, San Francisco, and West Point. The value of the American Silver Eagle is based on more than just its silver content. Due to the limited numbers produced and the varying numbers minted each year this coin also enjoys “collectable value” with some years and mint mark combinations bringing much more than others. The...

1948 – 1963 The Benjamin Franklin Half Dollar was the first circulated US coin to feature a real person, who was not a president, in the design. The idea for a coin to honor Benjamin Franklin came from Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross. Franklin was very well known and respected not only for his role as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, but also for his talents as a writer, printer, scientist and inventor. Sinnock died in 1947 before the design of the Benjamin Franklin half dollar was completed. He had not included an eagle in the design, although the Coinage Act of 1873 mandated that an eagle had to appear on all US silver containing coins bigger than the dime. The task of adding the eagle to the reverse was given to Gilroy Roberts. The Federal Commission of Fine Art disapproved...

Benjamin Franklin Commemorative Dollar One of this country’s greatest scientists and philosophers was Benjamin Franklin. He was a strong force leading the American Revolution and invented many things. The United States mint commemorated him with two silver dollar coins issued in 2006, honoring the 300th anniversary of his birth. One coin shows him for the scientist that he was, while the other honors his place as an instrumental leader in our country’s independence. The first coin shows an engraving of Franklin with his kite experimenting with electricity on the obverse, while the reverse has the “Join or Die” cartoon that Franklin published in the Pennsylvania Gazette May 9, 1754. (250,000 minted) The second coin shows a simple portrait of him on the obverse, while...

2004 Thomas Edison Commemorative Coin 1879 saw the invention of the light bulb at the hands of Thomas Edison. 2004 brought about the minting of a commemorative coin which honored Edison. The coin was 90% silver and 10% copper, and featured an artist’s view of Edison in his laboratory and an image of the early light bulb on the obverse. The reverse  has a singular picture of the light bulb with a commemoration of its 125th anniversary above. It is marked also with the years 1879-2004. (500,000 minted) Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clarke led over 35 men with the help of a young woman belonging to the Shoshone nation (Sacajawea) across the country. They began the long journey of the many miles west as the Unites States was expanding in 1803. This event was honored on it’s...

2002 Winter Olympic Games Five Dollar Gold Two coins were issued by the U.S. Mint for the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games. The five dollar coin is 90% gold and 10% alloy and has the crystal emblem of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games over the beautiful design entitled “Rhythm of the Land” on it’s obverse. The reverse has the Olympic flame on top of a cauldron. (80,000 made) The silver dollar coin is comprised of 90% silver and 10% alloy. On the obverse it portrays the Crystal Emblem as well as the classic Olympic rings and the “Rhythm of the Land” design. It’s reverse has the beautiful Rocky Mountains in the backdrop, superimposed by the Salt Lake City skyline. (400,000 made) The bicentennial of West Point Military Academy was commemorated with a silver dollar...