Changes

The earliest US dollar coins weighed 420 grains and contained .8924 fine silver. The obverse depicted a bust of Liberty and the reverse depicted an eagle surrounded by olive branches. In 1798, the eagle was replaced with a larger heraldic eagle. Minting of silver dollars began in 1794 and continued, with one brief interruption, until 1803. (An "1804" dollar was struck as a presentation piece in 1834-1835; it is very rare.)<ref>Yeoman 2001, 176-180</ref>

The earliest US dollar coins weighed 420 grains and contained .8924 fine silver. The obverse depicted a bust of Liberty and the reverse depicted an eagle surrounded by olive branches. In 1798, the eagle was replaced with a larger heraldic eagle. Minting of silver dollars began in 1794 and continued, with one brief interruption, until 1803. (An "1804" dollar was struck as a presentation piece in 1834-1835; it is very rare.)<ref>Yeoman 2001, 176-180</ref>

The suspension of silver coinage was lifted in 1831, and the first new silver dollars appeared in 1836. The weight of the coin was reduced in 412.5 grains, 0.900 silver. The earliest examples of these dollars depicted a seated liberty on the obverse and an eagle in flight on the reverse. The eagle was replaced with a heralidc eagle when minting of the silver dollar was greatly expanded for circulation in 1840. By 1853, the silver in the coin was worth more than the face value, and the coin was used mostly for international trade. In 1866, the motto "In God We Trust" was added to the dollar coin for the first time. The "Liberty Seated - Heraldic Eagle" dollar was minted until 1873.<ref>Yeoman 2001, 181-183</ref>

The suspension of silver coinage was lifted in 1831, and the first new silver dollars appeared in 1836. The weight of the coin was reduced in 412.5 grains, 0.900 silver. The earliest examples of these dollars depicted a seated liberty on the obverse and an eagle in flight on the reverse. The eagle was replaced with a heraldic eagle when minting of the silver dollar was greatly expanded for circulation in 1840. By 1853, the silver in the coin was worth more than the face value, and the coin was used mostly for international trade. In 1866, the motto "In God We Trust" was added to the dollar coin for the first time. The "Liberty Seated - Heraldic Eagle" dollar was minted until 1873.<ref>Yeoman 2001, 181-183</ref>

Silver dollar production resumed in 1878. The Morgan dollar -- so named for its designer -- depicted Liberty's head on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse. Coinage continued until the Treasury's silver bullion was depleted in 1904. A number of silver dollars were melted to replenish the bullion in 1918, and one last run of Morgan dollars were issued in 1921.<ref>Yeoman 2001, 186</ref>

Silver dollar production resumed in 1878. The Morgan dollar -- so named for its designer -- depicted Liberty's head on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse. Coinage continued until the Treasury's silver bullion was depleted in 1904. A number of silver dollars were melted to replenish the bullion in 1918, and one last run of Morgan dollars were issued in 1921.<ref>Yeoman 2001, 186</ref>