1890 Silver Dollar
1890 Morgan Silver Dollar Value Pushed higher by bullion prices your 1890 Morgan silver dollar value is a minimum of $24.11. Also, because of scarcity and worth more to collectors are those minted at the Carson City mint. Also and very important, is your coin's condition. There are 287 1890 silver dollar for sale on Etsy, and they cost $50.10 on average. The most common 1890 silver dollar material is metal. The most popular color? Home 1890 Morgan Silver Dollars 1890 S Morgan Silver Dollar CoinTrackers.com has estimated the 1890 S Morgan Silver Dollar value at an average of $27, one in certified mint state (MS+) could be worth $750. Type: Morgan Silver Dollar.
Why a dollar today is worth only 3% of a dollar in 1890
Updated: January 13, 2020$100 in 1890 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $2,862.35 today, an increase of $2,762.35 over 131 years.The dollar had an average inflation rate of 2.59% per year between 1890 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 2,762.35%.
This means that today's prices are28.62 times higher thanaverage prices since 1890,according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.A dollar today only buys 3.49% of what it could buy back then.
The 1890 inflation rate was -1.09%. The current year-over-year inflation rate (2020 to 2021) is now 1.36%1.If this number holds, $100 today will be equivalent in buying power to $101.36 next year.The current inflation rate page gives more detail on the latest inflation rates.
1890 Silver Dollar O
| Cumulative price change | 2,762.35% |
| Average inflation rate | 2.59% |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $2,862.35 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $2,762.35 |
| CPI in 1890 | 9.100 |
| CPI in 2021 | 260.474 |
| Inflation in 1890 | -1.09% |
| Inflation in 2021 | 1.36% |
| $100 in 1890 | $2,862.35 in 2021 |
Buying power of $100 in 1890
This chart shows a calculation of buying power equivalence for $100 in 1890 (price index tracking began in 1635).
For example, if you started with $100, you would need to end with $2,862.35 in order to 'adjust' for inflation (sometimes refered to as 'beating inflation').
When $100 is equivalent to $2,862.35 over time, that means that the 'real value' of a single U.S. dollar decreases over time. In other words, a dollar will pay for fewer items at the store.
This effect explains how inflation erodes the value of a dollar over time. By calculating the value in 1890 dollars, the chart below shows how $100 is worth less over 131 years.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, each of these USD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | Dollar Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1890 | $100.00 | -1.09% |
| 1891 | $100.00 | 0.00% |
| 1892 | $100.00 | 0.00% |
| 1893 | $98.90 | -1.10% |
| 1894 | $94.51 | -4.44% |
| 1895 | $92.31 | -2.33% |
| 1896 | $92.31 | 0.00% |
| 1897 | $91.21 | -1.19% |
| 1898 | $91.21 | 0.00% |
| 1899 | $91.21 | 0.00% |
| 1900 | $92.31 | 1.20% |
| 1901 | $93.41 | 1.19% |
| 1902 | $94.51 | 1.18% |
| 1903 | $96.70 | 2.33% |
| 1904 | $97.80 | 1.14% |
| 1905 | $96.70 | -1.12% |
| 1906 | $98.90 | 2.27% |
| 1907 | $103.30 | 4.44% |
| 1908 | $101.10 | -2.13% |
| 1909 | $100.00 | -1.09% |
| 1910 | $104.40 | 4.40% |
| 1911 | $104.40 | 0.00% |
| 1912 | $106.59 | 2.11% |
| 1913 | $108.79 | 2.06% |
| 1914 | $109.89 | 1.01% |
| 1915 | $110.99 | 1.00% |
| 1916 | $119.78 | 7.92% |
| 1917 | $140.66 | 17.43% |
| 1918 | $165.93 | 17.97% |
| 1919 | $190.11 | 14.57% |
| 1920 | $219.78 | 15.61% |
| 1921 | $196.70 | -10.50% |
| 1922 | $184.62 | -6.15% |
| 1923 | $187.91 | 1.79% |
| 1924 | $187.91 | 0.00% |
| 1925 | $192.31 | 2.34% |
| 1926 | $194.51 | 1.14% |
| 1927 | $191.21 | -1.69% |
| 1928 | $187.91 | -1.72% |
| 1929 | $187.91 | 0.00% |
| 1930 | $183.52 | -2.34% |
| 1931 | $167.03 | -8.98% |
| 1932 | $150.55 | -9.87% |
| 1933 | $142.86 | -5.11% |
| 1934 | $147.25 | 3.08% |
| 1935 | $150.55 | 2.24% |
| 1936 | $152.75 | 1.46% |
| 1937 | $158.24 | 3.60% |
| 1938 | $154.95 | -2.08% |
| 1939 | $152.75 | -1.42% |
| 1940 | $153.85 | 0.72% |
| 1941 | $161.54 | 5.00% |
| 1942 | $179.12 | 10.88% |
| 1943 | $190.11 | 6.13% |
| 1944 | $193.41 | 1.73% |
| 1945 | $197.80 | 2.27% |
| 1946 | $214.29 | 8.33% |
| 1947 | $245.05 | 14.36% |
| 1948 | $264.84 | 8.07% |
| 1949 | $261.54 | -1.24% |
| 1950 | $264.84 | 1.26% |
| 1951 | $285.71 | 7.88% |
| 1952 | $291.21 | 1.92% |
| 1953 | $293.41 | 0.75% |
| 1954 | $295.60 | 0.75% |
| 1955 | $294.51 | -0.37% |
| 1956 | $298.90 | 1.49% |
| 1957 | $308.79 | 3.31% |
| 1958 | $317.58 | 2.85% |
| 1959 | $319.78 | 0.69% |
| 1960 | $325.27 | 1.72% |
| 1961 | $328.57 | 1.01% |
| 1962 | $331.87 | 1.00% |
| 1963 | $336.26 | 1.32% |
| 1964 | $340.66 | 1.31% |
| 1965 | $346.15 | 1.61% |
| 1966 | $356.04 | 2.86% |
| 1967 | $367.03 | 3.09% |
| 1968 | $382.42 | 4.19% |
| 1969 | $403.30 | 5.46% |
| 1970 | $426.37 | 5.72% |
| 1971 | $445.05 | 4.38% |
| 1972 | $459.34 | 3.21% |
| 1973 | $487.91 | 6.22% |
| 1974 | $541.76 | 11.04% |
| 1975 | $591.21 | 9.13% |
| 1976 | $625.27 | 5.76% |
| 1977 | $665.93 | 6.50% |
| 1978 | $716.48 | 7.59% |
| 1979 | $797.80 | 11.35% |
| 1980 | $905.49 | 13.50% |
| 1981 | $998.90 | 10.32% |
| 1982 | $1,060.44 | 6.16% |
| 1983 | $1,094.51 | 3.21% |
| 1984 | $1,141.76 | 4.32% |
| 1985 | $1,182.42 | 3.56% |
| 1986 | $1,204.40 | 1.86% |
| 1987 | $1,248.35 | 3.65% |
| 1988 | $1,300.00 | 4.14% |
| 1989 | $1,362.64 | 4.82% |
| 1990 | $1,436.26 | 5.40% |
| 1991 | $1,496.70 | 4.21% |
| 1992 | $1,541.76 | 3.01% |
| 1993 | $1,587.91 | 2.99% |
| 1994 | $1,628.57 | 2.56% |
| 1995 | $1,674.73 | 2.83% |
| 1996 | $1,724.18 | 2.95% |
| 1997 | $1,763.74 | 2.29% |
| 1998 | $1,791.21 | 1.56% |
| 1999 | $1,830.77 | 2.21% |
| 2000 | $1,892.31 | 3.36% |
| 2001 | $1,946.15 | 2.85% |
| 2002 | $1,976.92 | 1.58% |
| 2003 | $2,021.98 | 2.28% |
| 2004 | $2,075.82 | 2.66% |
| 2005 | $2,146.15 | 3.39% |
| 2006 | $2,215.38 | 3.23% |
| 2007 | $2,278.48 | 2.85% |
| 2008 | $2,365.97 | 3.84% |
| 2009 | $2,357.55 | -0.36% |
| 2010 | $2,396.22 | 1.64% |
| 2011 | $2,471.86 | 3.16% |
| 2012 | $2,523.01 | 2.07% |
| 2013 | $2,559.97 | 1.46% |
| 2014 | $2,601.49 | 1.62% |
| 2015 | $2,604.58 | 0.12% |
| 2016 | $2,637.44 | 1.26% |
| 2017 | $2,693.63 | 2.13% |
| 2018 | $2,760.77 | 2.49% |
| 2019 | $2,809.42 | 1.76% |
| 2020 | $2,844.08 | 1.23% |
| 2021 | $2,862.35 | 0.64%* |
This conversion table shows various other 1890 amounts in today's dollars, based on the 2,762.35% change in prices:
| Initial value | Equivalent value |
|---|---|
| $1dollarin 1890 | $28.62dollarstoday |
| $5dollarsin 1890 | $143.12dollarstoday |
| $10dollarsin 1890 | $286.24dollarstoday |
| $50dollarsin 1890 | $1,431.18dollarstoday |
| $100dollarsin 1890 | $2,862.35dollarstoday |
| $500dollarsin 1890 | $14,311.76dollarstoday |
| $1,000dollarsin 1890 | $28,623.52dollarstoday |
| $5,000dollarsin 1890 | $143,117.58dollarstoday |
| $10,000dollarsin 1890 | $286,235.16dollarstoday |
| $50,000dollarsin 1890 | $1,431,175.82dollarstoday |
| $100,000dollarsin 1890 | $2,862,351.65dollarstoday |
| $500,000dollarsin 1890 | $14,311,758.24dollarstoday |
| $1,000,000dollarsin 1890 | $28,623,516.48dollarstoday |
Inflation by Spending Category
CPI is the weighted combination of many categories of spending that are tracked by the government. Breaking down these categories helps explain the main drivers behind price changes. This chart shows the average rate of inflation for select CPI categories between 1890 and 2021.
Compare these values to the overall average of 2.59% per year:
| Category | Avg Inflation (%) | Total Inflation (%) | $100 in 1890 → 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food and beverages | 3.91 | 15,038.93 | 15,138.93 |
| Housing | 4.19 | 21,672.64 | 21,772.64 |
| Apparel | 1.95 | 1,160.74 | 1,260.74 |
| Transportation | 3.17 | 5,854.76 | 5,954.76 |
| Medical care | 4.73 | 42,554.09 | 42,654.09 |
| Recreation | 1.11 | 324.71 | 424.71 |
| Education and communication | 1.85 | 1,005.59 | 1,105.59 |
| Other goods and services | 4.99 | 58,649.49 | 58,749.49 |
The graph below compares inflation in categories of goods over time. Click on a category such as 'Food' to toggle it on or off:
For all these visualizations, it's important to note that not all categories may have been tracked since 1890. This table and charts use the earliest available data for each category.
Inflation rates of specific categories
Medical Care· Housing· Rent· Food· MoreInflation-adjusted measures
S&P 500 price·S&P 500 earnings·Shiller P/EHow to Calculate Inflation Rate for $100 since 1890
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1890 and today:
Then plug in historical CPI values. The U.S. CPI was 9.1 in the year 1890 and 260.474 in 2021:
1890 Silver Dollar Mint Marks
$100 in 1890 has the same 'purchasing power' or 'buying power' as $2,862.35 in 2021.
To get the total inflation rate for the 131 years between 1890 and 2021, we use the following formula:
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
Comparison to S&P 500 Index
The average inflation rate of 2.59% has a compounding effect between 1890 and 2021. As noted above, this yearly inflation rate compounds to produce an overall price difference of 2,762.35% over 131 years.
To help put this inflation into perspective, if we had invested $100 in the S&P 500 index in 1890, our investment would be nominally worth approximately $14,475,365.17 in 2021. This is a return on investment of 14,475,265.17%, with an absolute return of $14,475,265.17 on top of the original $100.
These numbers are not inflation adjusted, so they are considered nominal. In order to evaluate the real return on our investment, we must calculate the return with inflation taken into account.
The compounding effect of inflation would account for 96.51% of returns ($13,969,649.35) during this period. This means the inflation-adjusted real return of our $100 investment is $505,615.82. You may also want to account for capital gains tax, which would take your real return down to around $429,773 for most people.
| Original Amount | Final Amount | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominal | $100 | $14,475,365.17 | 14,475,265.17% |
| Real Inflation Adjusted | $100 | $505,715.82 | 505,615.82% |
Information displayed above may differ slightly from other S&P 500 calculators. Minor discrepancies can occur because we use the latest CPI data for inflation, annualized inflation numbers for previous years, and we compute S&P price and dividends from January of 1890 to latest available data for 2021 using average monthly close price.
For more details on the S&P 500 between 1890 and 2021, see the stock market returns calculator.
News headlines from 1890
Politics and news often influence economic performance. Here's what was happening at the time:
- Alice Sanger becomes the White House’s first female employee.
- The Forth Bridge (Scotland), becomes the longest bridge in Great Britain: it is officially opened by the Prince of Wales (King Edward VII).
- Wilhelm II, the German emperor, removes Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck.
- First electric chair execution is performed on murderer William Kemmler at Auburn Prison in New York.
Raw data for these calculations comes fromthe Bureau of Labor Statistics'Consumer Price Index(CPI), established in 1913. Inflation data from 1665 to1912 is sourced from a historical study conducted by political scienceprofessor Robert Sahr at Oregon State University.
You may use the following MLA citation for this page:“Value of 1890 dollars today Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 6 Feb. 2021, https://www.officialdata.org/us/inflation/1890.
Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.
in2013dollars.com is a reference website maintained by the Official Data Foundation.