Morgan Silver Dollar — Original 90% Silver
Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.
United States • 90% silver, 10% copper
Issue years: 1878–1904, 1921
Fine silver: 0.773451 troy oz
United States • 1 U.S. dollar
Liberty Seated Silver Dollar
Liberty Seated Silver Dollar uses the reference’s reported .7734 troy oz ASW per coin. The reference also lists 26.73 g gross and .900 silver. This guide covers regular 1840–1873 Seated dollars; the illustrated 1873 Philadelphia specimen has the later reverse motto. Gobrecht and Trade dollars are separate types.
Jaclyn Nash; National Numismatic Collection; National Museum of American History; Smithsonian government photo; resized WebP; paired photograph separated · Image source · Public domain — U.S. Government Smithsonian photograph
Jaclyn Nash; National Numismatic Collection; National Museum of American History; Smithsonian government photo; resized WebP; paired photograph separated · Image source · Public domain — U.S. Government Smithsonian photograph
When a fresh spot bid is available, melt values use fine-metal content × spot bid. CashForCoins guide buying offers use the separately configured percentage for each metal. Selected rare/numismatic coins require an appraisal. Dollar amounts remain unavailable when a fresh quote or buying percentage is missing.
Verified coin specifications
- Country
- United States
- Face denomination
- 1 U.S. dollar
- Composition
- 90.0% silver; balance copper
- Gross weight (grams)
- 26.73
- Fineness
- 0.9
- Fine-metal weight (troy oz)
- 0.7734
- Diameter (mm)
- 38.1
- Edge
- Reeded; inspect actual specimen
- Mint
- United States Mint
- Mint mark
- None, O, S or CC; verify date/mint
- Issue years
- 1840–1873
The period includes proofs: 1858 appears in the proof list, with no regular strike that year. Earlier Gobrecht designs are outside this profile.
- Source precision
- The reference reports nominal 26.73 g, .900 silver, 38.1 mm and .7734 oz ASW. Its rounded gross mass implies approximately .773451 oz when multiplied by .900. Following the owner’s reference priority, the calculator uses the reference’s reported .7734 oz ASW; the separately rounded mass product is disclosed, not treated as additional source precision.
Calculate this coin’s metal content
Formula: specified fine-metal troy ounces × quantity. Dollar melt value additionally requires an approved current metal price.
Obverse: identify the front
Liberty is seated beside a shield, holding a pole with a liberty cap. Stars surround the figure and 1873 appears below on the reference specimen. The full seated figure differs from the later Morgan head portrait; similar seated devices on smaller coins do not identify the dollar denomination.
Reverse: identify the back
An eagle with a breast shield holds an olive branch and arrows. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA surrounds it and ONE DOL. appears below. The photographed 1873 reverse includes IN GOD WE TRUST above the eagle. Its absence on an earlier regular no-motto subtype should not be treated as proof of a counterfeit.
History and purpose
The regular dollar family spans 1840–1873. The reference distinguishes the no-motto period through 1865 from the motto reverse beginning in 1866. The older Gobrecht dollar and the heavier Trade dollar are separate identification paths. This guide provides historical context without reproducing current price-guide quotations.
How to identify this variant
Read ONE DOL., the date and any mint mark beneath the eagle, then compare nominal 26.73 g mass and 38.1 mm diameter. A seated figure alone is insufficient because the design vocabulary also appears on dimes, quarters and half dollars. Preserve the entire rim when photographing small letters.
Understanding its metal content
The calculator follows the reference’s .7734 troy oz fine-silver specification, so three coins total 2.3202 troy oz. Multiplying its separately rounded gross mass, 26.73 g, by .900 gives 24.057 g, approximately .773451 oz; this is disclosed as a distinct nominal mass calculation. The reported ASW takes priority under the owner’s source policy. Neither calculation measures wear or authenticates a customer specimen.
Dates, varieties and composition changes
Record whether the motto is present, together with the year and mint mark. The representative 1873 Philadelphia piece illustrates a late regular subtype; it does not establish the appearance of every branch-mint issue or the edge of a customer specimen. Unusual combinations deserve individual attribution.
Melt value versus collector value
These earlier dollars can warrant review beyond their nominal silver amount. Retain date, mint and original surface information before treating a group as interchangeable metal. An NNC reference photograph is not a certification of another coin; avoid assigning a condition grade or premium from resemblance alone.
Authenticity and condition
Keep measurements, denomination, date, both face designs and original packaging together. A familiar portrait or silver color cannot certify a composition. Use a suitable scale and caliper without scratching, cleaning or removing a coin from a grading holder. Preserve photographs and provenance for individual examination when attribution or authenticity is uncertain. These reference images do not grade or authenticate a customer coin.
Selling this coin
Sort this identified type separately from adjacent alloys and denominations. Record the quantity, readable dates and mint details, and supply both-side photographs for unusual or uncertain examples. Request an appraisal of the actual lot using the existing quote form; its prefilled coin context assists identification. Keep the nominal metal total separate from a collector assessment and any accepted offer.
Sources and calculation methodology
The reference reports nominal 26.73 g, .900 silver, 38.1 mm and .7734 oz ASW. Its rounded gross mass implies approximately .773451 oz when multiplied by .900. Following the owner’s reference priority, the calculator uses the reference’s reported .7734 oz ASW; the separately rounded mass product is disclosed, not treated as additional source precision. The reference is the owner-selected specification authority when references disagree. Rounded ASW displays are compared with the calculation rather than converted into extra precision. Photographic identity and photographer reuse rights are reviewed independently. No approved live feed is configured, so dollar melt values remain unavailable. Publication and modification dates document actual review, not an artificial freshness claim.
Common questions
Does every Seated Liberty dollar have the reverse motto?
No. The reference separates regular no-motto dollars through 1865 from the motto subtype beginning in 1866. Record the actual year and reverse together.
Is a Trade dollar the same silver standard?
No. The Trade dollar is a separate heavier type. Read the denomination and design details before choosing a calculator entry.
How much silver is in one standard-weight Seated dollar?
The reference lists .7734 troy oz ASW. The separately rounded 26.73 g × .900 nominal mass calculation gives 24.057 g, approximately .773451 oz. This guide uses the reported reference ASW in its calculator; actual wear and identification are assessed separately.
References
- NGC: 1873 regular Seated Liberty dollar specifications — identity; weight 26.73 g; fineness .900; ASW rounded .7734 oz; diameter 38.1 mm; edge reeded; indexed specification observation (checked 2026-10-10)
- NGC: Seated Liberty dollar subtype history — dates 1840–1873; design seated Liberty/eagle; no motto through 1865 and motto from 1866 (checked 2026-10-10)
Issue-year references
Content maintained by CashForCoins. Last substantive record update: 2026-10-10. Report a specification or attribution issue through our contact page.
Related coins
Original Peace Silver Dollar — 1921–1935
Photo credits and rights on the linked coin profile.
United States • 90% silver, 10% copper
Issue years: 1921–1928, 1934–1935
Fine silver: 0.773451 troy oz
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