Morgan Silver Dollar (1878-1921) Produced for more than 40 years, the Morgan Silver Dollar was in circulation longer than any other. Heralded as boasting the best of all the Silver Dollar designs, the Morgan was an immediate hit with US citizens when it was released back in 1878.

  1. There were multiple varieties of the 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar - 7 Tail Feather Type. These varieties deal only with the coins that had only 7 tail feathers on the eagle depicted on the reverse of the coin. The earlier version originally had 8 feathers before the number was reduced.
  2. Morgan Silver Dollar (1878-1921) Produced for more than 40 years, the Morgan Silver Dollar was in circulation longer than any other. Heralded as boasting the best of all the Silver Dollar designs, the Morgan was an immediate hit with US citizens when it was released back in 1878.
  3. Morgan Dollar Price Guide Last Update: 02-06 07:11 AM EST Silver $26.96 ( +0.60 ) as of 02-05 04:59 PM EST.
  4. History of the 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar 1878 was the first minting of the Morgan silver dollar, and it was a turbulent first year for production. In order to fulfill the quota laid out by the Bland-Allison act, the Philadelphia Mint shut down production on all other coins and worked overtime.

Early Silver Dollars

Dollar
Minted at: San Francisco

Metal Composition: 90% Silver - 10% Copper

Mass / Weight: 26.73 grams

What This Coin Looks Like (Obverse, Reverse, Mint Mark Location, Special Features, etc.):
Coin Value Chart: Typical Coin Prices, Values and Worth in USD based on Grade/Condition
Good
(G-4)		Very Good
(VG-8)		Fine
(F-12)		Very Fine
(VF-20)		Extremely Fine
(EF-40)		About Uncirculated
(AU-50)		Uncirculated
(MS-60)		Uncirculated
(MS-65)		Proof
(PR-63)
$39$45$50$56$58$59$76$349-

USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1878-S Morgan Silver Dollar is Worth $45 in Average Condition and can be Worth $76 to $349 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition. Click here to Learn How to use Coin Price Charts. Also, click here to Learn About Grading Coins. The Melt Value shown below is how Valuable the Coin's Metal is Worth (bare minimum value of coin). Click here to see the Melt Value of every US Coin.
MELT VALUE: $21.17
Even More Morgan Silver Dollar Years/Mints/Varieties


26 items found

  • Seller: 1909S
    Condition: MS63
  • Seller: snliv
    Condition: Very Good
  • Seller: jameson11
    Condition: VG
  • Great Luster and Detail, Slight Patina, Good coin for someones collection.
    Seller: TaddsCoins
    Certification Agency: Other
    Certification Number: Raw
    Condition: AU-58
  • $1029.00
    or Best Offer
    Seller: STRYKEFORCEMYKE
    Certification Agency: US Mint
    Certification Number: NAC 1878 S REV 1878
    Condition: MS-66
  • Seller: JimCoins1492
  • Great coin with nice luster, good for someone's collection.
    Seller: TaddsCoins
    Certification Agency: ANACS
    Certification Number: 7173023
    Condition: AU-53
  • $39.00
  • Seller: AMCoinshop
    Condition: VERY FINE
  • Seller: HarrysStuff
    Condition: MS 62
  • Seller: HarrysStuff
    Condition: AU 55
  • $200.00
    or Best Offer
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  • $100.00
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  • Seller: dollarwise
    Condition: gem quailty
  • 78-S PICS DON’T JUSTIFY THIS BEAUTY!! HIGHLY REFLECTIVE SURFACES & SMOOTH CHEE
    Seller: 1currency1
    Condition: GEM BU / CHBU - Please Grade For Yourselves!
  • Seller: david68047167
    Condition: MS-62
  • Seller: 4X4mike
    Condition: Seems to be in EF condition
  • Seller: 4X4mike
    Condition: Seems to be in AU condition
  • $65.00
    or Best Offer
  • Seller: richcoins84usa
    Condition: BU/MS
  • Seller: haircut
    Condition: Circulated
  • $40.00
  • Seller: browerkati
  • Seller: edgch
    Condition: BU slight toning
  • Seller: bejemcoins
    Condition: Extremely Fine

Morgan silver dollars range in price from as low as $20 to as high as tens of thousands of dollars. It depends on their condition and the date they were minted, among other factors.

You're probably thinking: That's quite a wide range! This is why you should consult a numismatic expert to appraise the value of your coin when you’re ready to sell.

Each Morgan dollar is struck from 90% silver. Its fine silver weight is 0.77344 troy oz. (Gold and silver are measured in troy ounces.)

Popular Morgan Dollars

If your Morgan dollar is a special variety, it will likely command a higher price. These varieties are commonly known as VAMs. Some of them have earned fascinating nicknames. Most VAMs can only be seen under magnification, but a handful are visible with the naked eye.

Numismatists have even traced the history of each VAM to the dies used to strike the coins.

Silver

The abbreviation comes from 'Van Allen Mallis.' These are the last names of the experts who first documented the varieties.

Here are a few of the most popular VAM Morgan silver dollars.

1888-O 'Scarface'

'Scarface' Morgan dollar. Image source: VAMWorld

A die break caused one of the most famous Morgan dollar VAMs called 'Scarface.' A fracture in the die used to strike these coins left a prominent raised line on Lady Liberty's cheek.

1888-O 'Hot Lips'

'Hot Lips' Morgan dollar VAM. Image source: VAMWorld

The 'Hot Lips' VAM is the result of a mint error known as a doubled die. This causes parts of the design to appear doubled or overlapped. In this case, the effect is most obvious on Lady Liberty's lips. The Hot Lips variety is not especially rare but it is highly collectible.

1878-S 'Funky Feather'

1878-S 'Funky Feather' Morgan dollar. Image source: VAMWorld

This variety is from the first year the Morgan dollar was issued. The wing feathers of the eagle on the reverse design are noticeably crude. A portion of the wing exhibits a grainy appearance and is characterized by small raised dots.

Other varieties of the 1878 coin feature different numbers of tail feathers on the eagle.

A noteworthy pedigree will also influence the price of a Morgan silver dollar. In other words, who owned the coin before? Was it part of a famous collection or hoard? Sometimes this is also called the coin's provenance.

The 'PL' designation also adds collectible appeal to any silver coin. This stands for proof-like, meaning the coin has mirrored surfaces. Once unknown, these are now a favorite among collectors.

Below are some general guidelines to help you determine the value of your Morgan dollar.

How To Identify the Branch Mints

Several different branches of the U.S. Mint struck Morgan dollars. This is important to know because certain mints produced less coins in a given year than others.

Each branch corresponds to a mintmark. This is a short abbreviation on the coin that tells you the location where it came from:

  • P (Philadelphia Mint)
  • D (Denver Mint)
  • O (New Orleans Mint)
  • S (San Francisco Mint)
  • CC (Carson City Mint)

In the case of coins from the Philadelphia Mint, the mintmark is omitted. You won't find a 'P' anywhere on the coin.

So if there is no mintmark, you'll know your coin comes from Philadelphia. As a general rule, these coins had higher mintages. That makes them less expensive than their counterparts from other mints.

How To Find the Mintmark

You will find the mintmark on the reverse of your Morgan near the bottom of the design.

Morgan dollar CC mint mark. Image source: CoinStudy

Silver dollar coins minted in Carson City, Nevada are prized by collectors. The mint sourced its silver from the legendary Comstock Lode. It was only briefly in operation, however.

Morgan Silver Dollar Price Chart

Here is a list of values for every Morgan dollar minted from 1878 through 1904, as well as 1921.

Keep in mind that these prices are only a general guide. Actual market prices will vary slightly when you sell your coins. Again, it will always depend on the exact condition of the coin. Uncirculated silver Morgan dollar coins garner the highest prices.

Date & MintmarkMintageGAUMS
187810,509,300$30$60$150
1878-S9,774,000$30$50$80
1878-CC2,212,000$100$180$300
187914,807,100$20$50$75
1879-S9,110,000$20$40$60
1879-CC756,000$180$2,000$4,000
1879-O2,887,000$30$50$100
188012,601,335$20$40$60
1880-S8,900,000$20$40$60
1880-CC495,000$180$325$500
1880-O5,305,000$25$50$100
18819,163,975$20$40$60
1881-S12,760,000$20$40$60
1881-CC296,000$320$450$520
1881-O5,708,000$30$45$60
188211,101,100$20$40$60
1882-S9,250,000$20$40$60
1882-CC1,133,000$80$180$250
1882-O6,090,000$20$40$60
188312,291,039$20$40$60
1883-S6,250,000$30$120$1,000
1883-CC1,204,000$60$150$275
1883-O8,725,000$20$40$60
188414,070,875$20$40$55
1884-S3,200,000$25$250$9,000
1884-CC1,136,000$100$200$250
1884-O9,730,000$20$40$60
188517,787,767$20$40$60
1885-S1,497,000$35$110$350
1885-CC228,000$500$620$700
1885-O9,185,000$20$40$60
188619,963,886$20$40$60
1886-S750,000$50$150$375
1886-O10,710,000$30$45$60
188720,290,710$20$40$60
1887-S1,771,000$25$55$160
1887-O11,550,000$20$50$100
188819,183,833$20$40$60
1888-S657,000$120$200$350
1888-O12,150,000$20$40$75
188921,726,811$20$40$60
1889-S700,000$40$110$290
1889-CC350,000$600$7,000$22,000
1889-O11,875,000$25$60$300
189016,802,590$20$40$60
1890-S8,230,373$20$40$100
1890-CC2,309,041$75$200$600
1890-O10,701,000$20$45$100
18918,694,206$25$50$100
1891-S5,296,000$25$50$140
1891-CC1,618,000$75$250$650
1891-O7,954,529$20$60$275
18921,037,245$30$100$400
1892-S1,200,000$50$1,400$55,000
1892-CC1,352,000$200$750$1,750
1892-O2,744,000$25$80$300
1893378,792$200$400$1,400
1893-S100,000$2,500$20,000$225,000
1893-CC677,000$250$2,000$5,000
1893-O300,000$215$800$4,000
1894110,972$800$1,500$3,500
1894-S1,260,000$65$470$1,000
1894-O1,723,000$50$180$1,800
1895 (proof only)880n/a$40,000$52,500
1895-S400,000$300$1,600$4,000
1895-O450,000$225$1,200$15,000
18969,976,762$20$40$60
1896-S5,000,000$40$800$3,000
1896-O4,900,000$30$120$1,500
18972,822,731$20$40$60
1897-S5,825,000$20$45$100
1897-O4,004,000$20$100$1,250
18985,884,735$20$40$60
1898-S4,102,000$30$100$390
1898-O4,440,000$20$40$60
1899330,846$125$200$290
1899-S2,562,000$35$150$500
1899-O12,290,000$20$40$60
19008,880,938$20$40$60
1900-S3,540,000$30$90$275
1900-O12,590,000$20$40$60
19016,962,813$40$300$3,000
1901-S2,284,000$35$200$500
1901-O13,320,000$20$40$60
19027,944,777$20$45$65
1902-S1,530,000$100$230$400
1902-O8,636,000$20$35$50
19034,652,755$35$50$65
1903-S1,241,000$80$1,600$4,500
1903-O4,450,000$275$325$400
19042,788,650$30$65$140
1904-S2,304,000$40$50$2,000
1904-O3,720,000$30$40$55
192144,690,000$20$30$40
1921-S21,695,000$20$40$50
1921-D20,345,000$20$40$50

1878 Morgan Silver Dollar 8 Tail Feathers

Price guide excludes all proofs and special varieties. Non-proof varieties are accounted for in annual mintage totals.

Prices derived from NGC Coin Explorer, PCGS price guide, and USA CoinBook.

The price chart above is provided for general information purposes. It should not be used or construed as investment advice.

Historical Significance of the Silver Morgan Dollar

Two pieces of legislation in the United States bookend the history of the Morgan dollar. These are the Bland-Allison Act and the Sherman Silver Purchase Act.

The Bland-Allison Act gave birth to the Morgan silver dollar. It marked the first $1 coin issued in the U.S. in five years (aside from the 'Trade dollar').

There was very little demand for dollar coins, however. In 1890, the Sherman Silver Purchase Act attempted to address this problem. The law required the U.S. government to buy $4 million of silver every month from miners in the American West.

1878 Morgan Silver Dollars Sets

The coin is named for its designer, George T. Morgan. His design of Lady Liberty was modeled after Anna Willess Williams. She was a teacher and writer in Philadelphia at the time.

1878 Morgan Silver Dollar Value

1891 portrait of Anna Willess Williams. Image source: Chalkboard Champions

1878 Morgan Silver Dollar Mint Mark

The 1921 Morgan dollar was the last coin in the series. That year also saw the introduction of the Peace dollar. The theme of 'peace' was a celebration of the end of the First World War.

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