Early Dollars, struck from 1794 to 1803 were composed of .8924 Silver and .1076 copper. The Silver Dollar was first approved by Congress on April 2, 1792. Although approved in 1792, the first issue was struck in 1794. The word dollar evolves from the German Thaler, which was the name given to the first large European silver coin. All silver dollars, from 1794-1804 had their value stamped on the edge, reading HUNDRED CENTS, ONE DOLLAR OR UNIT. There was a lapse in coinage, of the silver dollar, from 1804 and 1835, but after that dollars were minted with a plain or reeded edge and the value was portrayed on the reverse.