The Coinage Act of 1792 authorized the production of dollar coins from silver and The U.S. Mint produced silver dollar coins from 1794 to 1803. The production of silver dollars continued until 1836 before it was ceased. The first silver dollars, precisely 1,758 of them, were coined on October 15, 1794 and were immediately delivered to Mint Director David Rittenhouse for distribution to dignitaries as souvenirs.