10 Most Valuable Silver Dollars That Could Be Worth a Fortune

10 Most Valuable Silver Dollars That Could Be Worth a Fortune: Silver dollars are more than just coins—they’re little pieces of American history, art, and wealth. People have loved them for a long time, from when they were used as everyday money to now, when they’re special treasures that collectors hunt for. These coins are beautiful, rare, and made of real silver, which makes them even more exciting.

But some silver dollars are worth way more than others because of their unique stories, how few there are, and how good they look. If you’re curious about which silver dollars could make someone rich, here’s a long and simple look at the 10 most valuable ones ever sold.

1. The 1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar

This coin is so famous that people call it the “King of American Coins.” Here’s the weird thing: even though it’s called the 1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar, it wasn’t actually made in 1804. Instead, these coins were created years later, in the 1830s and 1850s, as special gifts for important people. Because they weren’t made for regular use, only 15 of these coins are known to exist today. That makes them super rare and very special.

In 2023, one of these coins sold for over $10 million at an auction. Can you imagine that? It’s so valuable because there are so few of them, and their story—being made as special gifts—makes them even more interesting to collectors.

Also Read: 9 Most Valuable Half Dollars in History

2. The 1921 Peace Silver Dollar (High Relief)

The Peace Silver Dollar came out in 1921 to celebrate peace after World War I. It shows Lady Liberty on one side and an eagle holding an olive branch on the other. The first ones they made in 1921 had a “high relief” design, which means the pictures on the coin stick out more than usual. But they stopped making them like that after just one year because it was too hard to produce. That makes the high-relief version really rare.

In 2022, one of these coins, in amazing condition (graded MS-67), sold for $420,000. Collectors love it because it looks so beautiful and because it’s one-of-a-kind compared to later Peace Dollars.

3. The 1893-S Morgan Silver Dollar

Morgan Silver Dollars are some of the most famous American coins, and the 1893-S version is one of the rarest of them all. The “S” means it was made in San Francisco. They only made 100,000 of these coins, which is a pretty small number. And over the years, many of them were melted down or lost, so there aren’t many left today.

In 2021, one of these coins in great condition (graded MS-65) sold for $336,000. It’s so valuable because there are so few of them, and it’s a big deal for people who collect Morgan Dollars.

4. The 1889-CC Morgan Silver Dollar

This Morgan Silver Dollar was made in Carson City, Nevada, which is what the “CC” stands for. Carson City coins are extra special because they remind people of the Wild West, and they didn’t make very many of them. For this year, 1889, they made 350,000 coins, but most of them didn’t survive in good shape. Experts think less than 1% of them are still around in really nice condition.

In 2023, one of these coins in amazing condition (graded MS-66) sold for $288,000. People love it because of its connection to the Old West and because it looks so good after all these years.

5. The 1895 Proof Morgan Silver Dollar

This coin is often called the “King of Morgan Dollars” because it’s so rare and beautiful. In 1895, they didn’t make any Morgan Dollars for regular use, but they did make 880 special “proof” versions. Proof coins are made extra carefully with a shiny finish, and they’re meant for collectors, not for spending. Since they only made 880 of them, they’re super hard to find today.

In 2022, one of these proof coins in nearly perfect condition (graded PR-68) sold for $252,000. Collectors go crazy for it because it’s so rare and looks so stunning.

Also Read: Top 10 Dimes That Could Make You Rich

6. The 1870-S Seated Liberty Silver Dollar

The Seated Liberty Silver Dollar is an older type of coin that shows a lady sitting down, representing Liberty. The 1870-S version (made in San Francisco) is really rare because they didn’t make many of them, and only a few are known to exist today. It was made during a time when the U.S. was changing how it made coins, which adds to its story.

In 2021, one of these coins sold for $228,000 at an auction. It’s so valuable because there are almost none left, and it’s tied to an interesting time in American history.

7. The 1838-O Capped Bust Silver Dollar

This coin is a big deal because it was the very first silver dollar made at the New Orleans Mint—that’s what the “O” stands for. The Capped Bust design shows Liberty wearing a cap, and it’s one of the older styles of silver dollars. They only made 40,000 of these coins, so they’re really hard to find today, especially in good condition.

In 2023, one of these coins in fantastic shape (graded MS-66) sold for $216,000. People love it because it’s tied to the history of the South and because so few of them survived.

8. The 1884-S Morgan Silver Dollar

Another Morgan Silver Dollar makes the list! The 1884-S (made in San Francisco) had a mintage of 3.2 million coins, which sounds like a lot, but very few of them are still around in great condition. Most of them got worn out from use or weren’t saved properly.

In 2022, one of these coins in amazing condition (graded MS-67) sold for $192,000. It’s so valuable because it looks incredible and because high-grade versions are so hard to find.

9. The 1879-CC Morgan Silver Dollar

Here’s another Carson City coin! The 1879-CC Morgan Silver Dollar was made in a batch of 756,000 coins, but a lot of them were either used a ton or melted down over the years. That means there aren’t many left, especially in really nice condition.

In 2023, one of these coins in great shape (graded MS-66) sold for $180,000 at an auction. People love it because of its Wild West connection and because it looks so good after all this time.

Also Read: 10 Rarest Quarters That Could Make You Rich

10. The 1878-CC Morgan Silver Dollar

The last coin on our list is also from Carson City—the 1878-CC Morgan Silver Dollar. They made about 2.2 million of these, so they’re not super rare in bad condition. But finding one in amazing condition is really tough. That’s what makes the high-grade ones so special.

In 2021, one of these coins in fantastic condition (graded MS-67) sold for $168,000. It’s loved for its classic Morgan design and because it’s so hard to find one that looks this good.

Why Are These Silver Dollars Worth So Much Money?

There are a few big reasons why these coins sell for such huge amounts:

• They’re Rare: If only a small number of coins were made, or if most of them got lost or melted over time, there aren’t many left. That makes collectors compete to get them.
• They’re in Great Condition: A coin that looks almost brand new is worth way more than one that’s scratched or worn out. The grades (like MS-65 or MS-67) tell you how nice the coin looks.
• They Have Cool Stories: Many of these coins are tied to important moments in U.S. history, like the Wild West or changes in how money was made. That makes them more meaningful.
• They Look Amazing: The designs on these coins, like the Morgan or Peace Dollars, are so pretty that people can’t help but want them.

Could You Have One of These in Your Pocket?

It’s not super likely that you’d find one of these rare silver dollars just sitting in your change jar, but it’s not impossible either! People who collect coins sometimes look through old collections, buy rolls of coins from banks, or check out estate sales to find hidden treasures. If you have an old silver dollar with a strange mark, a year that sounds rare, or one that looks really shiny and perfect, it might be worth a lot. You could take it to a coin expert to get it checked out—it could turn out to be a fortune!