Well now, that's a weighty question with an answer that's a bit more slippery than a greased coin. The short answer is: a whole lot more than seventeen dollars.
First, let's get the face value out of the way. As the provided search results hint, a pound of classic U.S. silver dollars, like Morgan or Peace dollars, contains about 17 coins. So, if you were to take your pound of history to the bank, you'd get a crisp seventeen bucks. Please don't do this. The teller might faint, and every coin collector in a five-mile radius would feel a great disturbance in the Force.
The real value comes from two other places: the silver content and the collector (or numismatic) value.
A pound of 90% silver dollars contains roughly 13.1 troy ounces of pure silver. To find its base "melt value," you'd multiply that by the current spot price of silver, which bounces around more than a kangaroo on a trampoline. So, the first part of its worth is tied directly to the daily commodities market.
But these aren't just anonymous lumps of metal; they're coins with dates, mint marks, and varying degrees of wear. This is where numismatic value comes in. The bags sold by retailers like those in the search results are often filled with common-date, circulated coins. Their value will be a bit above the silver melt price, reflecting a small premium for being recognizable, historic coins. However, if your pound of silver dollars happens to contain a rare date or a coin in pristine condition, that single piece could be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars on its own.
In short, a pound of silver dollars is worth its weight in silver plus a premium. That premium can range from "a little something extra" for a bag of well-worn, common coins to "early retirement" if you stumble upon a hidden gem.
