However, this does not typically reflect the value of these coins. In the light of the 1889-CC Morgan silver dollar, it is almost every collectors dream. Prices start at $20 for a coin in very good, circulated condition (VG-8) and go up to $300,000 for a coin in mint condition. With this intention, this created the first-year 1878 7 Over 8 Morgan silver dollar variety from Philadelphia. It is believed that only a few dozen true uncirculated pieces actually exist, and most do so in the lower mint state ranges. Some of the other issues from the 1890s, such as the 1893-CC, 1894, 1895-S and 1896-S are very scarce and infrequently encountered in gem uncirculated condition. Prices start at $29 for a coin in very good, circulated condition (VG-8), but you can earn a whopping $17,250 for a coin in mint condition that has never been circulated. If you would like to build a Morgan dollar collection, youll see here that the prices of some coins in the series are truly astronomical. The value of collectible Morgan silver dollars varies widely, with some fetching as much as $300,000. Prices start at $300 for a coin in very good, circulated condition (VG-8) and go up to $126,500. Theres nothing special about the 1888 O Morgan Dollar. The sets with the highest grade-point averages are usually recognized with awards presented by the respective grading company. Your email address will not be published. The Nevada facility made 756,000 of these double-stamped Morgans in 1879. Of these, 500,000 used a reverse of the 1878 design, so the eagle and the arrows appear flatter. Certainly a difference from a little over half a century ago! Coins in grades up to the XF level are regularly encountered, and AUs are merely scarce. Due to this scarcity and subsequent war efforts that claimed much of the nations excess silver stores, the right minting on a Morgan dollar can make it worth more than 500,000 times what it was when it was forged. This may dissuade some collectors at first glance. Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez is a journalist, editor, and blogger who has won multiple awards from the Numismatic Literary Guild. The 1889-CC Morgan is the rarest of the Carson City Mint Morgans. Before we can talk about the most valuable Morgan silver dollars, we wanted to give you a bit more insight into the production of these coins. The 1883-S Morgan dollar coin was made at the San Francisco Mint as one of 6.25 million Morgan coins that were made that year. For even better conditions, these coins are known to ascend to their full value of over half a million dollars, but only for coins that were never circulated and remain in the rarest condition. That year, the Louisiana facility re-used dies from 1886, altering the six to a seven, and part of the six can still be seen on the 1887 coins. 1 oz South African Gold Krugerrand - Random Dates, 2019 Patriot 1 oz Proof Like Silver Round - American Revolution, 1 oz Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf - Random Date, Silver dollars for sale at Gainesville Coins. This 1889 CC Morgan Silver Dollar was minted in Carson City, Nevada, hence the CC mint mark. The 1895 is a very curious issue and a mystery that has never been clarified. The coins struck at the San Francisco Mint tended to circulate more extensively due to the distrust that many people of the Western States had in paper money, and coins such as the 1893-S circulated quite heavily in places such as California and Nevada. In 1879, the New Orleans silver minting facilities started up again. The 1895-S Morgan dollar coin was made at the San Francisco Mint and is rare, as it's only one of 400,000 Morgan coins made that year. Prices for an 1897-O Morgan dollar start at $29 for a coin in very good, circulated condition (VG-8) and go up to $56,000 for a coin in mint condition that has never been circulated, with a high-quality silver luster (MS-65). Circulated examples are downright rare. The Comstock Lode practically saved the New Orleans silver minting industry after the Civil War shut them down due to the resulting metal shortage. Fill out the information on the form to your left. A mere 350,000 pieces were produced, few of which were saved, and most pieces show evidence of circulation. Only 350,000 of these coins were ever produced. Many of these so-called CC mint Morgan dollars from Carson City are among the rarest of all the coins in the series. Only 1,000 of these coins still exist, and only 10 in mint, uncirculated condition. Some historians believe that by preventing a banking collapse in Britain with these silver coins, America may have saved the Allies victory in World War I. In effect, the mintage decreased further, and only 8,000 -17,900 survive. After the free coining of silver was abolished, silver could no longer be used as a base value for U.S. currency, meaning that the gold standard could go fully into effect and silver could only be minted in limited quantities by the U.S. Mint. Uncirculated pieces are rare and gems even more so, with very few coins having actually been graded at that level. The 1893-CC Morgan dollar coin was made at the Carson City Mint. There are generally two approaches to building a set of Morgan dollars. In 1878, dies that were originally made for the San Francisco Mint with the letter S were altered to the letter O for the New Orleans Mint. There are advantages to each strategy. Then you save the rarest, priciest coins for last. The 1886-O Morgan dollar coin was made at the New Orleans Mint, which made 10.7 million Morgan coins that year. Some of the ways a collector may assemble a set of Morgan dollars is to arrange them in folders, albums, or holders. Many of these coins sell for around $3,000. The Morgan dollar holds great mystique for collectors. The only thing that stands in the way of that method is finding the right coins. While the coin still trades for a premium over other dates with similar mintages it can hardly be considered a rare coin, even at the gem level. Morgan silver dollars were 90 percent silver, one-dollar coins minted between 1878 and 1904, with a special one-off production in 1921 but their history goes back a bit further. The former approach provides plenty of instant gratification to the collector who wants to see her album fill up with silver dollars. In uncirculated condition, however, the story changes radically. Prices start at $29 for a coin in very good, circulated condition (VG-8) and go up to $20,000 (MS-65). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The 1879-CC Clear CC Morgan dollar coin was made at the Carson City Mint. When a coin is certified MS-65 by a major coin grading company, it is not only certified as being in top condition with few blemishes or scratches, but also for being uncirculated. Prices start at a mere $35 for a coin in very good, circulated condition but can fetch up to $125,000 for a coin in mint condition that has never been circulated, with a high-quality silver luster (MS-65). The Comstock Lode, a massive silver discovery in 1859, flooded the U.S. market with silver and caused the value of silver coins to drop. That is, it's a goal that is tackled over the course of many decades. Prices for an O over S Morgan dollar start at $44 for a coin in good but worn condition (G-4) and go up to $45,576 for a coin in mint condition that has never been circulated (MS-65). Bullion Exchanges - Gold and Silver Investing. The issue has always been popular for its low-mintage and the fact that it was struck at the Carson City Mint, and even well-circulated and impaired pieces are in demand. The New Orleans mint produced over 427 million coins in total, including almost 5 million of these silver dollars. According to Heritage Auction records, one of the 1889 Morgan dollars sold in 2009 for $500,000. When taken as a long-term objective, building a complete Morgan dollar collection can be a financially obtainable goalthough one for which several dates may require saving your money for many months, even years. The 1896-O Morgan Dollar coin was made at the New Orleans Mint.The Louisiana facility made 4.9 million Morgan coins that year. Find mintages and prices for every Morgan dollar in our Coin Library catalogue! It was a P Morgan certified MS-65 or uncirculated gem that sold for the full value listed here. Although its minting operations closed in 1893, in 1895 the Carson City Mints building served as the gold and silver U.S. Assay Office, where precious metals are tested for purity and value. The reverse depicts a heraldic eagle clutching a bundle of arrows and an olive branch in its talons. This 7Tail Feathers reverse was applied at all three mints: Philadelphia, Carson City, and San Francisco. With a certified MS+ rating by a top grader, this coin can sell for $165,000. That can sometimes prove quite difficult, even if youve got all the money in the world. Prices start at only $29 for a coin in very good, circulated condition and go up to $150,000 for a coin in mint condition that has never been circulated, with a high-quality silver luster (MS-65). Nevertheless, the first silver Morgan does not only represent the start of this famous dollar series but also have several impressive first-year varieties. The 1888 O, VAM-4 Hot Lips & The 1888 O, VAM-1B3 DBO Scarface are both super desirable and very special Morgan Silver Dollars. Only 300,000 1893 Morgan Silver Dollars were ever minted. Most pieces are encountered at the mid circulated grade level (VF or so) as numismatists in the early 20th century noticed the low mintage and pulled many coins out of circulation. Proof coins were usually given as gifts to politicians or visiting dignitaries, and few survive today. The Carson City Mint, distinguished by the mint mark, CC, was opened in 1870. The Philadelphia Mint was the only facility that did not put a letter mark on Morgan dollars. The same Coinage Act also established the dollar unit and decimal coinage system that we still use today. The toughest dates are sometimes extremely challenging to come by and, when they do appear in the marketplace, they may not carry the quality or eye appeal you want for your collection. Last but not least, the 1878 tail feathers reverse design was the new 7Tail Feathers variety. The coins were polished and handled carefully to avoid being marked. Prices start at $34 for a coin in very good, circulated condition (VG-8), but very lucky collectors can get as much as $149,500 for one in mint condition. Don't be the last to know about the latest deals
The 1889-CC Morgan dollar coin was made at the Carson City Mint, which only made 350,000 Morgans that year. While the Proof mintage of this year was not low in the context of the series, demand is extraordinarily high and the 1895 Morgan Silver Dollar leading to a sharp premium. Among these were bags and bags of the once rare 1903-O. The obverse features a remake on Lady Liberty, wearing a diadem with her hair falling loosely around her neck. Prices start at $47 for a coin in good, circulated condition (G-4) and go up to $30,724 for a coin in mint condition. As early as the mid-1950s, the 1895S Morgan was considered rare. The reverse displays the Eagle with its wings spread open holding an olive branch and a bundle of arrows along with the denomination. Allegations of fraudulent or criminal activity against a named party, when said activity has not been proven in a court of law, will be removed. By then, however, most had been around for a while and uncirculated coins were very rare. Yet many hobbyists decide to pursue the series regardless. Linderman held a competition for the design of a new silver dollar, which was won by English engraver, George Morgan. These key-date Morgan dollars are the coins that are listed above, along with prices and other important information. These sets are given grade-point averages based on the coins labeled grade. The Morgan dollar was widely used in the expanding American frontier during the turn of the century. Today, prices start at $40 for a coin in very good, circulated condition (VG-8) and go up to $5,750 for a coin in mint condition that has never been circulated, with a high-quality silver luster (MS-65). Theres a 2005 Red Book record of an 1895 O Morgan Silver Dollar coin selling for $575,000, but this is not the norm. Therefore, these coins will always be worth more to collectors of coins than to silver miners, regardless of the coins condition. Morgan Dollars are arguably the most popular of all United States coin series. Here are the 8 rarest Morgan dollars today. Your email address will not be published. Join us today for FREE! Your email address will not be published. This can be a highly competitive and fun way to build a collection of Morgan dollars or any other coin series. Overnight the price plummeted and now the coin is only considered a scarce issue with a mintage of 4,450,000 pieces. All 1895 Morgan Dollars available are proofs from a total mintage of 880 coins, although some circulated pieces do exist, which are classified as circulated Proofs. The Morgan Silver Dollar features a design inspired by Anna Willess Williams, whose face became famous soon after this coin was first released. Collectors prize the first and the last year coins because they indicate the beginning and the end of a coin series. The 1901 unmarked Morgan Dollar coin was made at the Philadelphia Mint, which was the only facility that did not put a letter mark on Morgans. You have to remember that Philadelphia at this time was the nations capital. As a result the coin is a major rarity in uncirculated condition, jumping in price exponentially in grades above MS-60. The 1893-S Morgan dollar coin was made at the San Francisco Mint. In 1894, the California facility produced 1.26 million Morgan dollars in total. An 1892 Morgan Silver Dollar sold for $460,000 in 2009 at a Heritage Auction. Prices start at $350 for a coin in very good, circulated condition (VG-8) and go up to $25,300 for a coin in mint condition that has never been circulated, with a high-quality silver luster (MS-65). As a result, the nickname Hot Lips was invented due to the doubled die obverse in this Morgan dollar variety. Required fields are marked *. Prices start at $100 for a coin in very good, circulated condition (VG-8) and go up to $9,800 for a coin in mint condition that has never been circulated. It consists of $20.2 worth of melted silver, though in certified MS+ condition by a coin grading company, this silver dollar is worth at least $130,000. For instance, if one were to look at the silver coin, the person can detect the Libertys profile has two noses, lips, and chins. They came out of New Orleans worth 1.00 USD in the twilight years of the Morgan dollars. Affectionally known as The Granite Lady, the building that minted the 1884 S Morgan Silver Dollars is one of only a few structures that survived the San Francisco earthquake in 1906. They, along with several other issues, comprise the litany of Morgan dollar key dates. Britain, which was paying for war supplies and other goods with paper certificates, may not have had the silver reserves to stay afloat without help from America. However, in this review, well look at the most widely regarded and popular regular-issue key dates. Some people refer to the 1888-O Morgan dollar as Double Lips or Hot Lips. The reason being this Morgan silver dollar was struck twice on the obverse side. The reverse shows an American eagle holding a clutch of arrows, with the words United States One Dollar. The new coins were called Morgan silver dollars after their designer. Identically, the 1895-S Morgan dollar is a limited, low-mintage, key-date San Francisco Mint issue. In the absolute sense, it can hardly considered a scarce coin, as its mintage of 3,200,000 coins is not all that low. While most every Morgan dollar is conditionally rare in the better Mint State grades, there are several dates that are scarce, even elusive, in any grade. When you finish, we will be notified of your account number, When the custodian or administrator receives the funds your prior custodian, we are securely and electronically notified of the authorized funds, We will send you a quote with the metals that you have specified so you can see how your funds are allocated across metal types, When you approve the trade we will execute the trade and automatically send your shipment to an LBMA approved facility. Nor will trolls. The New Orleans Mint made only 300,000 of the 1893-O Morgan dollar coins, which makes them one of the rare coins on this list. This could be why a particularly pristine one can sell for even more. Prices for an 1896-O Morgan Dollar start as low as $34 for a coin in very good, circulated condition (VG-8) and go up to $69,000 for a coin in mint condition that has never been circulated, with a high-quality silver luster (MS-65). In this article we will take a look at some of the well-known key dates, condition rarities, and just plain interesting coins of that fabled Morgan Silver Dollar series. Despite being created in 1863, at the peak of the silver boom due to the discovery of the Comstock Lode, its opening was delayed. Then, in the early 1960s, hundreds of thousands of Morgan Silver Dollars saved since their time of minting were discovered in treasury vaults. Their price depends on several factors, including the number of coins minted in a specific year, the city where they were made and the coins current condition, with uncirculated coins being more rare and valuable. Of course, if youve got deep pockets and loads of ambition, you might just work as quickly as possible on building a complete set of Morgan dollars, keys and all. The 1891-O Morgan dollar coin was made at the New Orleans Mint. Prices start at $150 for a coin in very good, circulated condition (VG-8), and go up to $38,000 for a coin in mint condition. Indeed, entire volumes can be written about rare Morgan dollars. Morgan used his fiancee, schoolteacher Anna Williams, as the model for the head of Liberty on one side of the coin. Vehicle Repossessions Climb as US Households Struggle with Finances. The first approach means buying the expensive dates in the future, when they may cost way more to buy. The composition of this silver dollar is 90% silver, and it is the most desirable issues in the entire Morgan dollar series. If any bags were saved at the time, it is very likely that they were later melted and that the public never had the chance to purchase those coins, drastically reducing the surviving population. The 1897-O Morgan dollar coin was made at the New Orleans Mint and was one of about 4 million Morgan coins manufactured that year. Washington Quarter Key Dates and Varieties, Lincoln Wheat Penny (19091958): Values and Key Dates, Key Date Roosevelt Dimes: Collecting Tips. Few would argue with the claim that Morgan dollars are the most popular United States collectible coin, aside from Lincoln cents. We will send you a confirmation email with a link to the custodian or administrator, Click on the link and go directly to the IRA administrator website to fill out a self-directed IRA application. 30 West 47th Street, Store 1, New York, NY, 10036. It was used as the citys mint until a new one opened in 1937. Surprisingly, the Treasury strike about millions of 90% silver dollars per month. The coin has since been dubbed the "Morgan" dollar as an homage to the coin's celebrated designer, George T. Morgan. Morgan dollar, proof coins were made in small, limited productions and given special care. The 1892-S Morgan dollar coin was made at the San Francisco Mint and was one of 1.2 million Morgan coins made that year. That year, the Louisiana facility struck a run of coins with a double-die mark on the face of Lady Liberty. Some of the best Morgan dollar collections around are the culmination of many years of hard work. The San Francisco branch of the US Mint was established to process the influx of gold during the California Gold Rush in 1854. The Carson City Mint, associated with scarce coins, produced a relatively large number of Morgan Silver Dollars, relatively few of which actually circulated, and dates such as the 1883-CC and 1884-CC are readily available in uncirculated condition. These coins were only minted for a few decades at the end of the 1800s in select minting branches around the country, notated by unique mint marks. Anna Willess Williams, the model for the Morgan dollar design. The rarest Morgan dollar is the 1893 S Morgan Silver Dollar. This one is tied with the next two on this list, but we've ranked them in order based on their starting prices. However, MS+ condition coins (certified mint state) can auction for upwards of $280,000. In even average condition, this coin can sell for $3,000. So goes the joy, challenge, and mystique of collecting Morgan dollars! All of these are highly collectable, as are many both major and minor varieties. The obverse highlights a portrait of Lady Liberty along with the year of mintage. The Carson City and S- mint branch had received their coin dies and started preparations to strike the first-year Morgans. Depending on grade there are others, and there are also a few well-known varieties that are worth a healthy premium. Prices for an 1894-O Morgan dollar start at as low as $50 but can go for up to $40,000. With this in mind, the strikes were slightly misaligned when this silver coin was struck. Popular varieties include the 1879-CC Capped Die, which featured a rusted mintmark, the 1888-O Doubled Die Obverse (also known as the hot lips as Liberty on the obverse appears to have two sets of lips) and the 1900-O/CC, which featured numerous reverse dies which initially had the CC mintmark punched into the die but when that mint ceased operations an O mintmark for New Orleans was punched into the die instead, showing remnants of the original CC mintmark. This led to the Coinage Act of 1792 and the creation of the U.S. Mint. The series, which was struck at a total of five Mints (although not each Mint struck Silver Dollars in each year the design was in production), is filled with rarities and interesting coins that will appeal to novice and experienced collectors alike. A total of 6,592,000 pieces were struck for circulation and it shares a very similar story to the 1884-S: the majority of pieces were released into circulation and uncirculated examples are rare. The Morgan dollars produced during this tumultuous legal-financial period are now incredibly valuable collectors items, with several years being of particular interest. Well take care and check those two Morgans out sometime and I know you will change your mind about the 1888 O. The latter gets the most valuable coins out of the way before they possibly become too expensive to afford. Due to a bad die, the coins were struck twice with the mark, resulting in a doubled effect. A registry set is essentially an inventory of coins in ones collection that is published online and made available for public viewing. Most uncirculated survivors show heavy bagmarks and lack eye-appeal, and even pieces grading MS-64 are a major rarity. Minted from 1878 through 1921, it was originally and officially called the "Liberty Head Dollar" per the United States Mint. Besides the Proof-only 1895, there is another Philadelphia date that is very difficult, the 1901. The figure of the eagle on the coins reverse side was double stamped, and the beak, feathers and arrows all appear slightly duplicated. Virtually the entire mintage was released into circulation and since numismatists at the time were not focused on mintmarks, they settled for the much more common Philadelphia (Proof) issue and did not pursue the San Francisco coin. Since there were only 100,000 of these coins ever minted, their rarity speaks for itself.