Based on general numismatic knowledge, as the provided context was a list of sources rather than the information itself.
Ah, the silver dollar! A coin that asks the eternally complicated question: "Am I a dollar, or am I a tiny silver treasure?" The simplest, and yet most wrong, answer is that a silver dollar is worth one dollar. You could technically use one to buy a suspiciously cheap coffee, but the barista would either think you're a time traveler or a genius trying to pull a fast one.
The real value story starts with what the coin is made of. Most U.S. silver dollars minted before 1965, like the iconic Morgan and Peace dollars, are 90% silver. This means their absolute minimum value is whatever that silver is worth melted down, which is almost always significantly more than a single buck. This "melt value" changes daily with the silver market, making your coin a tiny, shiny stock certificate with a president's face on it.
But that's just the floor price. The real fun, and potentially the real money, comes from the coin's value to a collector. This is where a silver dollar can go from being worth twenty bucks to being worth more than your car. Numismatists, the fancy term for coin nerds, will pay a hefty premium for dollars that are rare, in pristine condition, or have a specific mint mark. A common, scuffed-up 1921 Morgan dollar is one thing; a rare, uncirculated 1895 Morgan dollar is a legendary beast that could fetch six figures. It’s the difference between a rock and a diamond; they’re both minerals, but you only propose with one of them.
So, how much is a silver dollar worth? It’s worth somewhere between its face value and a small fortune. The final price tag depends entirely on its age, rarity, condition, and the whims of the precious metals market. Your best bet is to have it looked at by a professional, lest you accidentally trade a down payment on a house for a pack of gum.
