Morgan Silver Dollar Value Guide

The 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar is a cornerstone of Gilded Age numismatics, representing the peak of the American silver mining boom. Designed by George T. Morgan, this coin is highly prized for its 90% silver content and its symbolic representation of post-Civil War westward expansion.

What Is Morgan Silver Dollar Worth?

The typical price range for Morgan Silver Dollar is $40 - $95 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The presence of a 'CC' (Carson City) mint mark significantly increases value compared to Philadelphia strikes.
• Overall strike quality and the level of detail remaining on Liberty's hair and the eagle's breast feathers.
• Surface preservation, specifically the absence of 'bag marks' or scratches from circulation.
• Luster and original mint bloom, which can push prices toward the higher end of the $40-$95 range.

How to Identify Morgan Silver Dollar?

• Check the obverse for George T. Morgan's 'M' monogram hidden at the base of Liberty's neck.
• Verify the 1879 date at the bottom center of the obverse side below the Liberty head profile.
• Examine the reverse for the eagle with outstretched wings and look for mint marks like 'S', 'CC', or 'O' above the 'DO' in 'DOLLAR'.
• Confirm the composition is 90% silver and 10% copper with a diameter of 38.1 millimeters.

History of Morgan Silver Dollar

The Morgan silver dollar was minted from 1878 to 1904 and again in 1921. Designed by George T. Morgan, its obverse shows Lady Liberty in profile and the reverse depicts an eagle with outstretched wings. The coin became iconic for the late 19th-century US silver currency and remains highly collected for its historic links to the Gilded Age and the silver mining boom.