1925 was a wild year. Mussolini declared himself dictator of Italy, the Grand Ole Opry began broadcasting, and the first crossword puzzle was published.
The most common design for a 1925 silver dollar is the Standing Liberty. The obverse (front) side of the coin features a left-facing Lady Liberty with a shield and olive branch. The reverse (back) side of the coin features an eagle perched on a rock. This is actually a design that you can find on all coins from this era, not just the 1925 ones.
These coins can be worth a small fortune because collectors love them. A 1925 silver dollar in mint condition can be worth tens of thousands of dollars, though obviously the value depends on the condition of the coin.
If you have a 1925 silver dollar and want to know how much it’s worth, your best bet is to take it to a professional coin dealer or appraiser. They will be able to give you a more accurate estimate of its value.
Keep in mind that even if your 1925 silver dollar isn’t worth a lot of money, it’s still a piece of history that you can treasure. So don’t be too disappointed if it’s not worth as much as you hoped.
If you have one of these coins, however, you’re probably wondering if you could make some money out of it. Or at the very least, you want to know how valuable it is. Keep reading to find out.
The History of the 1925 Silver Coin
The first silver dollars were minted in 1794. These early coins were very different from the ones we have today. They were larger, had a different design, and were made of a different type of silver.
It wasn’t until 1836 that the U.S. Mint began using the dollar sign on silver coins. The first silver dollars with the dollar sign were minted in 1837.
The design of the silver dollar changed several times over the years. The most common design from this era is the Standing Liberty, which was minted from 1916 to 1930.
The obverse (front) side of the coin features a left-facing Lady Liberty with a shield and olive branch. The reverse (back) side of the coin features an eagle perched on a rock.
This is actually a design that you can find on all coins from this era, not just the 1925 ones. The design was created by Anthony de Francisci, and is part of the Peace Dollars collection, whose name was given to it because the coins were minted after World War I and symbolized the period of pace that came afterwards.
The Value of a 1925 Silver Dollar
The first big distinction to make is between circulated and uncirculated coins. A circulated coin is one that was used in everyday transactions and shows signs of wear and tear. An uncirculated coin, on the other hand, is one that was never used and therefore is in pristine condition.
That said, uncirculated coins can also show signs of wear, because they may have been stored improperly or handled without care. So even if a coin is uncirculated, it might not be worth as much as you think.
Appraisals rely on a grading system to determine the value of a coin. The Sheldon Scale is the most common one and goes from Poor (P-), which is the lowest grade, to Mint State (MS), which is the highest grade.
There are also multiple grades within MS. Here’s a scale for reference:
- Uncirculated (MS-60, 61, 62) — Uncirculated coins that have no wear but might have some imperfections, such as scratches, spots, or nicks.
- Select Uncirculated (MS-63) — Uncirculated coins with a nice luster but with still a few imperfections, though less than MS-60, 61, and 62.
- Choice Uncirculated (MS-64) — A coin with few imperfections and above-average luster. Collectors start to get pickier at this grade.
- Gem Uncirculated (MS-65,66) — We are getting very close to perfection here. Gem uncirculated coins have no more than a few very minor imperfections that need a magnifying glass to see.
- Superb Gem Uncirculated (MS-67, 68, 69) — These are the top of the line. A superb gem uncirculated coin has no imperfections that can be seen with the naked eye and has great luster.
- Perfect Uncirculated (MS70) — The holy grail of coins. A perfect uncirculated coin is, well, perfect. It has no blemishes or imperfections of any kind and has excellent luster. It’s as good as new.
So, for example, a 1925 silver dollar in poor condition might only be worth around $20, while a mint state coin could be worth tens of thousands of dollars (such as this $132,000 sale of a 1925-S coin on the 22nd of August 2022). Obviously, the value depends on the condition of the coin, its rarity, and other factors.
Here’s an excellent video that explains in-depth how to appraise your 1925 silver dollar coins, and what imperfections can increase their value.
While only a professional appraiser can give you an accurate estimate of your coin’s value, you can also get an estimate of your coin’s value by looking at the above video and combining it with the PCGS grading standards chart. You can click on each grade and read a short description of what to expect from each grade. For example, a VF-20 coin has ‘moderate wear with some loss of detail evident in design.’
Here’s a table with recent auction prices so you have a clearer idea of what to expect your 1925 silver dollar to be worth:
Editor’s note: Interestingly enough, PCGS suggests a price of around $40 for most gradings until you reach the uncirculating ones, but they’re so rare to find that at actual auctions (like on Mavin or eBay e.g. this one) you’re likely to pay a bit more for them.
1925 Silver Dollar Value Chart
| Quality | 1925 | 1925-S |
| From PO-1 to G-4 | Around $30, but they are very rare. In fact, PCGS recommends a price of $135 for PO-1 pieces | Most go for around $30-40 dollars (like this one), although PCGS suggests a $89 price for FR-2 coins |
| From G-6 to VG-10 | Between $41 and $53 | Around $40 |
| From F-12 to VF-20 | Between $62 and $89 | Most go for $42-43, but some auctions can get them up to over $50 |
| From VF-25 to XF-40 | One was sold at an auction for $29, but they are rare by now, most pieces will send for around $80-$100 like this one | Around $45 |
| From XF-45 to AU-58 | Up to grade 55 you shouldn’t pay more than $41, but AU-58 coins easily go for over $300 | Between $35 and $129 (though prices above $100 are strictly for AU-58 coins) |
| MS/PR60 | One went for as low as $16, but the real value is around $50-$60 | Around $110, but one went for as low as $43 recently |
| MS/PR-61 | Around $60, though a lucky person got one for $31 at Auction House | Between $77 and $202 |
| MS/PR-62 | Around $40 | Between $144 and $330 |
| MS/PR-63 | Most go for around $70-$80, but one went for over $3,300 | Between $250 and $400 |
| MS/PR-64 | Between $65 and $150, but one was sold for $5,500 recently | Between $500 and $1,000, although one surprisingly went for over $4,000 in a recent auction at Stack’s Bowers. Many pieces graded 64+ went for around $3,000. |
| MS/PR-65 | Between $110 and $180 | Between $8,400 and $52,000. As for coins graded 65+ one went for $29,000 and the other one for an astonishing $132,000 |
| MS/PR-66 | Between $350 and $700 | No recent sales |
| MS/PR-67 | Between $2,500 and $5,500, though one piece went for as much as $7,000 recently | No recent sales |
| MS/PR-68 | There are only 2 recent sales of a MS-68 1925 silver dollar. One for $38,400 and one for $89,125 | No recent sales |
Editor’s note: There were no sales of MS-69 or MS-70 1925 silver dollars in recent times.
Why the Huge Price Variations?
You must have noticed that there are big variations in sales prices even among coins of the same exact grade. The reasons could be countless. Usually these coins are sold at auctions, and these can get very competitive. When 2 gentlemen start trying to outbid each other they often end up paying a hefty price just to win the auction. That is the most common reason for the rarer coins.
As far as lower graded coins go, fluctuations in prices are usually minor, and are generally indicative of little interest in that specific auction. When you see a coin go for an average of $100, but with some auctions selling it for $20, then it’s likely that the latter auction had few participants, or that it flew under the radar.
1925 Silver Coin Errors
While most 1925 silver dollars were minted without errors, there are a few that exist and are worth significantly more than their regular counterparts. The most common error is the double die, where the coin is struck twice and produces a doubled image. These can be worth around $200.
Another error is the ‘D over S’ mint mark, where a Denver Mint coin was mistakenly struck with a San Francisco Mint Mark. These are even rarer and can be worth around $1000 or more.
The last error is the ‘canceled die,’ where a coin is struck with a die that has been damaged or canceled. These are the rarest and most valuable, worth around $5000 or more.
Of course, these are just ballpark figures, and the value of your 1925 silver dollar error will depend on its condition, rarity, and other factors. Also, since almost all coins get sold at auction, it also depends on the auctioners’ interest in your coin and how many people are bidding on it.
If you think you have a 1925 silver dollar error, the best thing to do is to take it to a professional appraiser or coin dealer and have them take a look at it.
FAQs
What is the 1925 Silver Dollar Made From?
The 1925 silver dollar, much like other coins from the Peace era, is made of 90% silver and 10% copper.
How Much Can a 1925 Silver Dollar Go For?
The value of a 1925 Peace dollar depends on its condition, rarity, and other factors. A well-worn coin might be worth around $20, while a mint state coin could be worth tens of thousands of dollars. We have even seen a $130,000 sale recently!
What’s the Difference Between a 1925-S and a 1925 Peace Dollar?
The main difference between a 1925-S and a 1925 Peace dollar is that the former was minted at the San Francisco Mint, while the latter was minted at the Philadelphia Mint.
Summary
The 1925 silver dollar is a popular coin among collectors, and it is quite affordable up to around grade MS-67. This is because it has a very high mintage for a Peace dollar, with over 46 million coins being produced. However, in higher grades, it becomes much more scarce and therefore more valuable. A perfect uncirculated coin is worth tens of thousands of dollars, while a well-worn coin might be worth around $20.
There are also a few 1925 silver dollar errors that are quite valuable, with the most valuable ones being worth around $5000 or more. If you think you have a 1925 silver dollar error, the best thing to do is to take it to a professional appraiser or coin dealer and have them take a look at it.
There are also grading services that will grade your coin for a fee, such as the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC). These services will give you a more accurate estimate of your coin’s value.
If you, on the other hand, are a collector of these, then you should focus on finding a coin that is well-preserved and has been kept in a safe place throughout the years. You can easily find them at auction houses and on the internet. As long as you’re willing to pay the price, you should be able to find a 1925 silver dollar that meets your collecting needs.
