When Did “Silver Dollar” Become Routine?

Large size notes were not in regular circulation when I was young.

 

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No and yes

 

Or would you call it a cent or penny when your getting change dollar coin? Good thread

 

Haha, to this day people still call SBAs silver dollars.

I was working cash register in high school and a coworker said he got a silver dollar in payment. I couldn't believe it, but when he showed me it was an SBA and he was explaining how it was pure silver. Didn't have the heart to say otherwise.

The other day I heard my dad call clad dollars "full dollars" instead of "silver dollar." That makes sense to me, as the half and full dollars are the largest coins, and neither are silver (after 1970 at least)

 

Long live Doug

 

Did you know Doug then. Trying to be cute

 

I took my Scouts to VA (to camp for a trip to DC) and they were getting change (SBA's, Presidential dollars, etc.) and they were totally mystified. Nothing like a n impromptu numismatic moment!

 

Ever actually try it? (I have) Yes with strong jaws and good teeth it is possible to make a very slight mark on a gold coin, at the real risk of breaking your teeth. What they would actually be checking for (if they ever actually did it, which I doubt) was whether it was gold plated lead, which would take tooth marks easily. So if you bit a gold coin and your teeth made marks it meant it was FAKE not real.

 

Back in the 19th century specie (coins and metal money) had a greater value than paper money. Paper money was discounted in value because there was more risk with the paper money being good and the paper money could only be redeemed at the bank that issued the currency. Paper money was supposed to be backed by specie, but many times banks didn't have enough specie to back the paper. If people thought that a bank was having a problem, they would go to the bank and trade in the banks paper money for the Specie. A run on the bank caused by many people asking for specie, caused a lot of banks to fail, even when they did not have a problem until the run started. Silver (and gold) was king due to its intrinsic value so payments in "silver dollars" was always a preferred way to receive a payment.

 

Who’s the girl and I can’t see the date. Wish I had a dollar book. I would read that hard

 

I love when you go way back when

 

Glad you said it...relieves me of the burden

 

Perhaps I am wrong, but I don't think you could put a tooth mark on a gold coin. Now if you had a coin made of lead (to be as heavy as gold...not really, but heavier than silver or nickel), you could put a dent in it.

 

I think 1939 was the last year of the "horse blankets"

 

Trying to be!!!!

 

They were probably all gone from circulation by then. The small size notes started in 1928.

 

agree with johnMilton. the silver dollar was the dollar for a long time, then came a gold dollar coin, then the dollar bill, safe to assume that's when they were called a "silver dollar" to differentiate which type of dollar it was.