Fast forward to 1965, when the US government decided to completely eliminate silver from the dollar coin. It was a bold move, but also a bit of a shocker for all the silver enthusiasts out there. The new dollars were made of a copper-nickel clad material, which was basically a fancy way of saying "not silver anymore".
Now, you might be wondering, what happened to all the silver that was previously used in coins? Well, let's just say it was reused and recycled - some of it even ended up in silver jewelry and tableware. Talk about upcycling, right? The US government was like a thrifty aunt, making the most of what they had.
Silver dollar collectors were, of course, a bit heartbroken when they heard the news. I mean, who doesn't love the shine and charm of a real silver dollar? But, as with all things, change is inevitable, and the new dollar coins were here to stay. Or, at least, that's what everyone thought - little did they know, the silver dollar would make a comeback of sorts.
When Was The Last Silver Dollar Made? - Chronicle Collectibles
In the 1980s, the US government started making silver bullion coins, like the American Silver Eagle, which contained a whopping 99.9% silver. It was like they were trying to make up for lost time or something! These coins were (and still are) super popular among collectors and investors, and it's not hard to see why - they're beautiful and valuable, to say the least.