A Brief Guide to 9 Genuine Silver Dollars Featuring U.S. Presidents

For more than 120 years, U.S. presidents have appeared on dollar coins. A number are genuine silver dollars, meaning they contain real silver, while others only have a silver-colored appearance. If a presidential dollar turns up, it is worth examining carefully. Its silver content may be substantial or minimal, and the following discussion explains which presidents and coin details can help identify an actual silver dollar.

Even familiar coins require some knowledge before their meaningful silver content can be identified confidently. Among rare U.S. coins, certain pieces without silver can nevertheless be rare finds today as well.

Congress authorizes commemorative coins to recognize American people, places, events, and institutions. Although these pieces are legal tender, they are not struck for ordinary circulation. When this article was originally published, readers seeking a related discussion of U.S. gold coins featuring presidents were directed to an article HERE.

At publication, Atlanta Gold & Coin identified silver dollar coins depicting U.S. presidents and arranged the examples below chronologically, from the earliest issue through the most recent.

1. 1900 Lafayette Commemorative Silver Dollar — Washington

Begin with the 1900 Lafayette Commemorative Silver Dollar. It may be surprising that these 90 percent-silver dollars were not actually minted during 1900. Instead, production occurred one year earlier, in 1899, even though the coins carry no official date.

The “1900” identifies the Lafayette statue shown on the coin’s reverse.

The full inscription is “Erected by the Youth of the United States in Honor of Lafayette/Paris 1900.” Conveniently, the coin was issued in time for the 1900 Paris Exposition, which was its intended purpose.

These dollars were the first $1 silver commemorative issues before 1983, as well as the first coins to portray President Washington. The obverse of the 1900 Lafayette Commemorative Silver Dollar presents George Washington and Lafayette in adjacent profile. Lafayette, a Frenchman, aided the United States during the Revolutionary War.

Another detail is the inscription “Lafayette Dollar.” This matters because most U.S. silver dollars carry the designation “One Dollar.”

2. 1971–1976 Eisenhower Silver Dollar

The final silver-content dollars made for general circulation were produced in 1935. Those pieces are generally known as Peace silver dollars. Afterward, the US Mint made no dollar coins from 1935 through 1971. Congress later chose to honor Dwight D. Eisenhower on dollar coins, and many members opposed placing such an important figure on a clad issue.

Coins made for general circulation used copper-nickel clad composition and contained no silver. The San Francisco Mint did, however, strike certain 40% silver-clad Eisenhower coins between 1971 and 1976.

For an Eisenhower dollar, the mintmark is a useful first detail when determining whether it contains silver; it identifies the facility that made the coin. The only 40% silver Eisenhower dollars came from San Francisco, where they received the “S” mintmark.

Additional characteristics can be checked when you sell these silver dollars. The dollar’s edge offers a helpful clue. A brown center layer indicates copper clad. A dark-gray center, or no visible copper stripe, instead suggests the coin is most likely 40% silver.

Weight provides another method for distinguishing an Eisenhower dollar with silver content. 40% Eisenhower silver dollars weigh 24.59 grams, whereas nickel-copper Eisenhower dollars weigh only 22.68 grams. As expected, silver pieces are heavier than clad pieces.

3. 1990 Eisenhower Commemorative Silver Dollar

In 1990, the 90% pure-silver Eisenhower Centennial Dollars were struck for the 100th anniversary of Eisenhower’s birth. Proof dollars were produced at Philadelphia, while the uncirculated versions came from West Point.

This issue was, in fact, the first silver dollar to carry a “W” mintmark.

John Mercanti designed the obverse, “Janus Portrait,” which overlaps two Eisenhower images. One portrays Eisenhower as president; the other depicts him as a 5-star general. Its inscription reads “Eisenhower Centennial.”

On the reverse is the Eisenhower home, with the inscription “Eisenhower Home” positioned beneath it.

4. 1991 Mount Rushmore Commemorative Silver Dollar — Washington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Lincoln

Further 90% silver commemoratives from the United States Mint included the 1991 Mount Rushmore Silver Dollars. They were minted in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Mount Rushmore Monument.

The obverse presents Mount Rushmore and its four clearly featured presidents. A laurel wreath sits below Washington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Lincoln. The inscriptions include “Golden Anniversary” and “Mount Rushmore National Memorial.” The reverse displays an eagle crest above a map of the United States.

5. 1993 Bill of Rights Silver Dollar — James Madison

The 1993 Bill of Rights dollars can make a strong addition to a commemorative silver-dollar collection. This .90 fine-silver coin carries President James Madison’s portrait and name on its obverse. The front, or obverse, also includes the inscriptions “Liberty” and “In God We Trust.”

Its reverse depicts Montpelier, Madison’s Virginia home, together with the home’s name.

Interestingly, the piece is called a Bill of Rights dollar, yet its design does not depict the document or acknowledge the date it was signed.

6. 1993 Jefferson Commemorative Silver Dollar

San Francisco minted the 1993 Jefferson commemorative silver dollars to mark the 250tth anniversary of President Jefferson’s birth. The obverse of these 90% silver coins shows Thomas Jefferson in profile. The front also bears the inscriptions “Thomas Jefferson” and “Architect of Democracy.”

These coins carry the paired dates 1743 and 1993. Their reverse depicts Jefferson’s home and names it “Monticello.” Monticello also appears on the reverse of Jefferson nickels.

7. 2009 Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Silver Dollar

The 2009 Abraham Lincoln commemorative dollars are likewise 90% silver. Their obverse features President Lincoln, based on the Lincoln Memorial statue. The reverse carries the final 43 words from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

An image of Lincoln’s signature appears on the right side of the coin.

8. 2013 5-Star Generals Commemorative Silver Dollar — Dwight Eisenhower

When the U.S. government chose to honor 5-star generals, President Dwight Eisenhower was naturally included. This 90% silver coin places his profile beside George C. Marshall’s on the obverse. Stripes and a 5-star insignia form the background, while both generals’ names surround the design.

The reverse features the Leavenworth Lamp along with the “U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth.”

9. 2015 March of Dimes Commemorative Silver Dollar — Franklin Delano Roosevelt

At publication, The 2015 March of Dimes Commemorative Silver Dollars featured the likeness of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. That choice was fitting because Roosevelt established the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, later known as the March of Dimes.

On the obverse are profiles of Roosevelt and Jonas Salk, both important to the fight against polio. The reverse portrays a baby held in a parent’s hand, with the inscription beneath it “March of Dimes.”

Philadelphia and West Point minted these 90% pure-silver coins.

Other Historic and Modern Silver Dollar Coins

The U.S. Mint has produced many silver coins, including the earliest silver dollars in 1794. Another group to consider is the output of the Carson City Mint, established after Nevada’s Comstock Lode discovery in 1859. These issues include some of the best-known Morgan silver dollars.

George T. Morgan designed the Morgan dollar, a 90% fine-silver coin that did not depict a president.

In the same way, the Peace Dollar was struck from 1921 – 1935 to mark the peace that followed World War I. Like Morgan dollars, these pieces show Lady Liberty rather than a president. The American Silver Eagle also carried a Liberty design. Each of these coins contains substantial silver, and many examples are sought by collectors.

In Summary

When this article was originally published, Atlanta Gold and Coin stated that customers could buy or sell Silver Dollars. The original article said the business bought and sold presidential coins as well as other silver dollars, including the Morgan & Peace Dollar and American Silver Eagle. It also described its prices as among the industry’s most reasonable.

When originally published, Atlanta Gold and Coin described its service as concierge-style, with transparent pricing and precious-metals guidance. At the time of publication, readers were invited to Contact us at that time to learn about coin and bullion guidance, coin appraisals, or coin purchases.

At the time of publication, readers were invited to call at 678-515-5763.