how much is a 1976 liberty silver dollar worth

[ValeriaMarie]

So, you've stumbled upon a 1976 dollar and are dreaming of early retirement. Let's pump the brakes a bit, but not without some hope! That big Bicentennial coin, featuring President Eisenhower on one side and the Liberty Bell crashing a party on the moon on the other, comes in two very different flavors.

First, you have the common-as-dirt version, the one that actually circulated. This one is a copper-nickel clad coin, meaning its silver content is a whopping zero percent. Unless it's in absolutely perfect, untouched condition that would make a museum curator weep, it's worth... well, a dollar. It’s a great piece for a vending machine, but not for an auction house.

But wait, there's a silver lining! The U.S. Mint also created a special collector's version made of 40% silver. This is the one you're hoping you have. The secret handshake to identify this more valuable coin is a little "S" mint mark, for the San Francisco Mint. If your coin has that "S", congratulations! You've graduated from having one dollar to having a bit more.

According to the experts, a 1976-S silver Eisenhower dollar in uncirculated condition is typically worth between $9 and $13. While that might not buy you a yacht, it's a handsome return on a one-dollar investment. So check for that "S" – it’s the difference between buying a gumball and buying a whole fancy lunch.