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The Best U.S. Silver Coins

Between 1794 and 1964, dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollar coins were all minted primarily out of silver. Although no circulating U.S. coins are being minted with silver as of 2011, the U.S. mint does produce a handful of specially minted silver coins every year for collectors. While which U.S. silver coins are the "best" is somewhat subjective, a few of these coins do stand out, whether it be for design or for collector popularity.

Walking Liberty Half Dollar
- Minted between 1916 and 1947, the walking Liberty half-dollar coin is one of the most handsome coins ever minted by the U.S. Mint. The front of the coin shows Liberty walking as the sun rises in the background, and a highly detailed eagle adorns the back of the coin. The coin's composition is 90 percent silver to 10 percent copper. The walking Liberty half dollar is a great coin for novice collectors because several years had high mintage numbers and are relatively easy to find at a decent price. Rare walking Liberty half dollars, however, are very sought-after coins.
Morgan Dollar
- The Morgan dollar (named after its designer, George T. Morgan) is another coin renowned for its physical beauty. The coin was minted between 1878 and 1904, and then again for one year in 1921, oftentimes in very high numbers, making certain years relatively easy to come by. Liberty is depicted in great detail on the obverse of the coin, and an eagle holding an arrow and a branch is shown on the back. Uncirculated Morgan dollars are some of the most valuable of all U.S. coins.
Peace Dollar
- Because of their size, dollar coins are some of the best-looking coins ever minted by the U.S. Mint. The Peace dollar is another prime example of this. A thinner visage of Liberty is depicted on the face of this coin than on the preceding Morgan dollar, and a dove is shown on the back instead of an eagle. This is another easy-to-find coin, making them very nice collectible pieces. As with most other historical U.S. silver coins, the Peace dollar is 90 percent silver.
American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins
- Since 1986, the U.S. government has minted special silver bullion coins specifically for collectors and investors called American Eagle silver bullion coins. These coins are minted with 99.9 percent pure silver, and they weigh in at 1 troy ounce. The image on the front of the coin is lifted from the walking Liberty half-dollar coin, and the reverse side depicts an eagle holding a shield. According to the U.S. mint's website, the American Eagle silver bullion coins are the world's best-selling silver bullion coins.

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