The US Mint started to produce the American Silver Eagle dollar in 1986, and the 1992 silver dollar is just one of the issued series. As the official silver bullion coin of the US, the 1992 silver dollar is among the popular coins among collectors. Read on to learn more about this interesting coin.
What Is the 1992 Walking Liberty Silver Dollar Made Of?
The 1992 silver dollar is 99.93% silver and 0.007% copper. It has the following specifications as well:
- Value: $1
- Thickness: 2.98 mm
- Diameter: 40.6 mm
- Mass: 31.103 g
- Reeded edge
- Fineness: 0.9993
- Actual silver weight: 1 ounce
The 1992 silver dollar has two designers — Adolph Weinman for the obverse and John Mercanti for the reverse.
On the obverse, you’ll find the walking Liberty design with her right arm extending forward and her left hand holding an olive branch. Inscriptions include LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and 1992. You might remember that the walking Liberty was the same design used in the half dollar coin from 1916 to 1947. The Walking Liberty design is considered by many as the most beautiful design of a US coin.
Image source: USA Coin Book
The reverse features the heraldic eagle designed by Mercanti. The Union shield is in front of the eagle, holding a banner in his beak. On the banner was written the US motto, “E PLURIBUS UNUM.” Above the eagle are 13 stars representing the 13 colonies that initially formed the Federal States. On the left talon of the eagle is an olive branch representing peace. On the right talon, you’ll find arrows representing the United States’ readiness to defend itself.
Other inscriptions include the following:
- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
- 1 OZ. FINE SILVER
- ONE DOLLAR
- Mint mark
- Designer’s initials
1992 Silver Dollar Varieties
The 1992 silver dollar comes in two varieties. These are the following:
| Variety | Mint Location | Mintage |
| 1992 P One Dollar American Silver Dollar | Philadelphia, West Point | 5,540,068 |
| 1992 S Proof One Dollar American Silver Dollar | San Francisco | 498,654 |
| Total | 6,038,722 |
The West Point Mint produced 3,957,024 silver one dollar coins, and combined with what the Philadelphia Mint produced, the total is 5,540,068. The San Francisco Mint was tasked to produce proof one-dollar coins in 1992.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at the 1992 silver dollar varieties:
1995 Walking Liberty Silver Dollar
Year of minting: 1995
Mint Mark: No mint mark
Minted in: Philadelphia and West Point
Quantity produced: 5,540,068
Face Value: $1.00 (one dollar)
Price: $35 or more (Uncirculated)
Mass: 31.101 grams (1 oz)
Edge: Reeded
Designer: Adolph Weinman/John Mercanti
Composition: 99.93% Silver and 0.007% Copper
Diameter: 40.6 millimeters
Thickness: 2.98 millimeters
Photo source: USA Coin Book
The 1995 silver dollar was produced in the Philadelphia Mint with the help of the West Point Mint. There’s no mint mark. The price may start at around $35. Other 1993 silver dollar coins can be more valuable when sold in the open market.
1995 S Walking Liberty Silver Dollar
Year of minting: 1995
Mint Mark: S
Minted in: San Francisco
Quantity produced: 498,654
Face Value: $1.00 (one dollar)
Price: $100 or more
Mass: 31.101 grams (1 oz)
Edge: Reeded
Designer: Adolph Weinman/John Mercanti
Composition: 99.93% Silver and 0.007% Copper
Diameter: 40.6 millimeters
Thickness: 2.98 millimeters
Photo source: USA Coin Book
The 1992 silver dollars produced in the San Francisco Mint are proof coins. You’ll notice an “S” mint mark on the coin’s reverse side. Because this one is proof, it has a brighter and more beautiful appearance than the regular struck silver dollars.
It’s worth noting that proof coins are more difficult to produce. Thus, there are fewer proof coins made in any given year.
List of 1992 Silver Dollar Errors
There were only about six million silver dollars produced in 1992. They are well-struck, and they look impressive. With advanced minting technology and equipment, there were little to no error coins noted for this series.
Nevertheless, if there’s any error, it could be the most common one, such as the doubled die error. This error happens when the die strikes the planchet twice. If the second strike hits the planchet at a slightly different angle, this would create a doubling appearance.
Many collectors are alert in finding 1992 silver dollar coins with prominent doubled die errors. The more obvious the error, the higher its value.
How Much Is the 1992 Silver Dollar Worth Today?
The 1992 silver dollar has a face value of one dollar. Its melt value is even higher at $22.60. Because these coins are made of almost 100% silver, you can expect their value to increase even more as the market value of silver rises as well.
Aside from the face value and melt value, you need to know that the 1992 silver dollar is even more valuable in the eyes of collectors. That’s why you’ll see super expensive 1992 silver dollars recorded in auctions.
To give you an idea, here’s a table that shows you the auction records
| Coin | Condition | Grade | Sold date | Sold by | Value |
| 1992 P One Dollar American Silver Dollar | Perfect Uncirculated | MS 70 | January 4, 2017 | Heritage Auctions | $16,450 |
| 1992 S Proof One Dollar American Silver Dollar | Superb Gem Uncirculated
|
PR 70 | June 1, 2006 | Heritage Auctions | $1,380 |
Aside from the varieties mentioned in the table, you should also know that there are error coins worth a lot of money. So, keep your eyes open for 1 dollar silver coins that could have an error.
How Does The Grading System Work?
The 1992 silver dollar is graded the same way as other US coins. The assessor would look into the coin’s preservation, color, luster, and strike quality. Depending on what the assessor sees, your 1992 silver dollar can have a grade from 1 to 70.
Aside from the numerical grade, each coin can be graded with adjectives. These adjectives may include Poor, Good, Fine, and Uncirculated. Regular silver dollars are called Mint State (MS), while coins made with greater details and beauty are called Proof.
So, a 1992 silver dollar can have grades like MS67 or PR68. Generally speaking, the higher the grade, the higher its perceived value.
Proof coins can also be considered as Cameo or Deep Cameo. Cameo refers to the level of contrast between the engraved materials and the background. The more pronounced the contrast is, the more beautiful the coin.
Where to Buy or Sell the 1992 Silver Dollar?
The 1992 silver dollar is available in coin shops and auction houses. You can also contact PCGS, as they have authorized dealers who buy and sell 1992 silver dollars.
The easiest way to find 1992 silver dollars would be on the Internet. Do a quick Google search, and you should be able to find the right coin for you. Some of the most popular websites where you might find the 1992 one-dollar coins would be Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Facebook marketplace, USA Coin Book, and Coin Trackers, to name a few.
Remember that if you buy coins online, be careful about scammers. So, you should only transact with a reputable and trusted service provider. It’s too risky to work with obscure stores.
Moreover, you can’t physically hold the coin on the Internet. You have to rely on pictures and videos. So, be sure that you think about your decision and gather as much information as possible.
FAQs
What is a 1992 1 oz fine silver dollar worth?
The 1991 silver dollar is worth a few dollars to thousands of dollars. The value depends on the condition of the coin and its rarity. Officially graded one-dollar coins are also more valuable than those not graded. You can expect a 1992 1-ounce fine silver dollar to start at around $30. At the time of this writing, the auction record for a 1992 one dollar silver coin is $16,450.
