The US dollar coin has been minted in silver and gold with the silver minting beginning in 1794. "Silver dollar" is a term referring to the United States coin with a one-dollar face value. The early dollar coins (or silver dollars) were minted between 1794 and 1803 when production was stopped. In 1834, the 1804 silver dollar coin was minted as a gift to rulers in Asia. There are only 15 known silver dollars dated 1804, and the latest value of one was over $4 million! Between 1849 and 1889, gold dollar coins were minted. The size of the gold dollar in 1849 was smaller than the current dime. Because it was easily lost, the Mint enlarged the coin in 1854 without increasing the weight. The thin design wore down so quickly that another design in a more durable coin was introduced in 1856. The US dollar coin took on yet another face as the Morgan silver dollar was introduced between 1878 and 1921. Many Morgan dollars are considered to be investor coins since they are predicted to steadily appreciate in value. In the world of US coin collecting, the only coin that is more popular for collectors than the Morgan silver dollar is the Lincoln Cent. Other US dollar coins introduced into the market include the Peace dollar (1921-1935), the Eisenhower dollar (1971-1978), the Susan B. Anthony dollar (1979-1981; 1999), and the current Sacagawea dollar (2000-present). While the US dollar coin is not a popular coin for general commerce, it remains high on the list for avid coin collectors.
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