The item in question is a United States silver coin minted in 1888 at the San Francisco Mint. Its face value is one dollar, and it is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper. These coins are highly collected and studied by numismatists due to their historical significance and varying rarity. Specimens originating from different mints, indicated by a mint mark (or lack thereof), can have dramatically different values.
Its allure stems from a confluence of factors including its silver content, its association with the late 19th-century American West (specifically the silver mining boom), and its readily identifiable design. The “S” mint mark signifies its production at the San Francisco Mint, which often influences its relative scarcity compared to coins minted in Philadelphia (“no mint mark”) or New Orleans (“O” mint mark). The availability and condition of examples greatly influence their worth to collectors, making them a focus for preservation and grading.