How Many Silver Dollars Are in a Pound?

The number of silver dollars in a pound varies because “silver dollar” refers to different coin types, each with distinct characteristics, composition, and weight.

Understanding Different Silver Dollar Weights

Historical U.S. silver dollars, such as the Morgan and Peace Dollars, were minted with a specific composition. Both Morgan Silver Dollars, produced from 1878 to 1904 and again in 1921, and Peace Silver Dollars, minted from 1921 to 1928 and then in 1934 and 1935, weigh approximately 26.73 grams each. These coins contain 90% silver and 10% copper, meaning they hold 0.77344 troy ounces of pure silver. The copper was added to enhance durability, making the coins more resistant to wear during circulation.

In contrast, modern bullion silver dollars, exemplified by the American Silver Eagle, exhibit different specifications. The American Silver Eagle, first released in 1986, is designed primarily for investment in precious metals. Each American Silver Eagle coin weighs exactly one troy ounce, which translates to approximately 31.103 grams. These coins are composed of 99.9% pure silver, with a trace amount of copper added for increased durability.

Determining the Number of Coins per Avoirdupois Pound

To determine the number of silver dollars in one standard (avoirdupois) pound, it is necessary to convert the pound into grams. One avoirdupois pound is precisely equivalent to 453.592 grams. With this conversion factor, the number of coins can be calculated by dividing the total grams in a pound by the individual coin’s total weight.

For Morgan and Peace Dollars, which each weigh 26.73 grams, the calculation is 453.592 grams divided by 26.73 grams per coin. This yields approximately 16.97 coins per avoirdupois pound. Therefore, it takes roughly 17 Morgan or Peace Dollars to reach one avoirdupois pound by total coin weight. For American Silver Eagles, each weighing 31.103 grams, the calculation is 453.592 grams divided by 31.103 grams per coin. This results in approximately 14.58 American Silver Eagles per avoirdupois pound.

The Significance of Troy Ounces for Silver Content

While the previous calculations focused on the total weight of the coins in an avoirdupois pound, the intrinsic value of silver coins is primarily measured by their pure silver content, expressed in troy ounces. A troy ounce is a specific unit of mass used for precious metals, equal to 31.1035 grams. This differs from a standard avoirdupois ounce, which is lighter at 28.3495 grams.

Consequently, a troy pound, consisting of 12 troy ounces (approximately 373.24 grams), is actually lighter than an avoirdupois pound, which has 16 avoirdupois ounces (approximately 453.592 grams).

This distinction is important for collectors and investors because the melt value of silver coins is directly tied to their actual silver content, not their overall weight, which includes non-silver metals. An avoirdupois pound contains approximately 14.58 troy ounces.

Therefore, when evaluating the worth of silver dollars, particularly for investment purposes, the focus shifts from the total number of coins in a standard pound to the aggregate troy ounces of pure silver they collectively contain. This ensures that the true intrinsic value of the precious metal is accurately assessed.