NOT all dollars are worth the same amount.
In the case of Morgan silver dollars, a $1 coin can be worth hundreds, or even thousands of dollars to collectors.
One of these antique coins from 1890 was sold on eBay for $238.70 in April 2022, nearly twice as much as the seller's $125 starting price.
Morgan dollars are some of the most valuable coins in the US, and you can make serious money if you find one in your coin collection.
History of the Morgan Dollar
The original Morgan dollar was only minted from 1878 to 1904.
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As a result, these coins have become especially popular to collect.
Morgans were minted again in 1921 - these variations sell for upwards of $100 - and also in 2021 as a non-circulating coin.
The silver dollar gets its name from George T. Morgan, who designed the coin.
One side shows a left-facing Lady Liberty wearing what is known as a Phrygian cap, circled by stars and "E Pluribus Unum."
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On the reverse side, the coin carries the image of a bald eagle with wings outstretched.
This particular coin was minted in Carson City, Nevada as evidenced by a small CC above the "one dollar" on the back of the coin.
Morgan dollars were also minted in Philadelphia, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Denver.
While not particularly rare among Morgan dollars, the 1890-CC variation is in scarce supply nonetheless.
More than two million silver dollars were minted in Nevada in 1890, but less than 10% have survived, according to the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS).
1890 CC Morgan dollars have sold for $600 in about uncirculated condition, and as much as $32,900 in an uncirculated state, according to PCGS.
This recently sold coin received seven bids before selling for $238.70.
History of the Carson City Mint
Like the Morgan dollars it produced, the Carson City mint was not long for this world.
After major silver deposits were discovered in Nevada in the 1850s, US lawmakers wanted a mint close to the massive Comstock Lode.
Transporting materials through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the San Francisco Mint was difficult, so the Carson City mint was built in 1869.
The first coins were struck the next year, but the mint closed permanently in 1893.
Because of this, coins minted in Carson City - including Morgan dollars - are especially rare.
Morgan dollars were only minted in Carson City from 1878 through 1885, and then from 1889 to the mint's closure.
How to find rare coins
There are many ways you can find rare coins.
The first thing you’ll want to do is check around your home or any places you might store change.
You can also try using a metal detector outdoors, or stopping by your local bank and asking for a roll of coins.
You can easily exchange bills for coins, getting plenty of change to sort through for standouts at no cost.
To check if your coins are worth anything on eBay, search the full name, select the "sold" listing and then toggle the search to "highest value”.
This way, you'll get a sense of what collectors are willing to pay for your coins.
You can either choose to sell the coin on eBay or through a specialist site such as Coinappraiser or USA Coin Book.
And be aware of potential fakes when buying online.
To avoid this, it's worth checking the seller’s history and whether or not the coin was certified in the listing.
The seller of this Morgan dollar, for instance, has a 100% positive feedback rating, making the coin a relatively safe buy even though it was uncertified.
Read More on The US Sun
Read More on The US Sun
In addition to antique coins, some coins minted in the last two years are worth hundreds of dollars.
And a coin expert spoke to The Sun to break down the most valuable Lincoln pennies worth up to $20,000.
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