# Capitalization Questions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalization-questions/574303>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 11, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalization-questions/574303 "2011-03-11T15:51:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalization-questions/574303/1 "2011-03-11T15:51:36Z")

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The two kinds of silver dollars that are popular with collectors are the Morgan dollar and the peace dollar. Morgan is a proper name, so I get that it should be capitalized. But what about the peace dollar in this context? Should “peace” be capitalized.

Also, what about sterling silver? Is “sterling” a brand name or something?

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalization-questions/574303/2 "2011-03-11T16:32:06Z")

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> [@HeyHomie](#):
>
> Morgan is a proper name, so I get that it should be capitalized. But what about the peace dollar in this context? Should “peace” be capitalized.

It’s a question of style. Different people will come up with different answers.

> [@](#):
>
> Also, what about sterling silver? Is “sterling” a brand name or something?

No, sterling silver is an alloy of silver and other substances, just like steel is an alloy of iron, copper, and other substances, and brass and bronze are alloys of copper with zinc and tin.