1879 Morgan Silver Dollar Value Checker: Errors List, “CC”, “O”, “S” & No Mint Mark Worth

Here’s the full picture on 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar value: it starts at $1.00 face value and tops out at $192,000, with a Grade 66 example sold through Heritage Auctions in January 2023 setting that record. Yours might be worth more than you think — upload a photo below for a quick value range, then scroll down to see what recent eBay sales reveal about today’s market.

 

1879 Morgan Silver Dollar Value By Variety

The 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar was produced at four U.S. Mint facilities and exists in many striking types: standard business strikes, Proof-Like (PL) finishes, Deep Mirror Proof-Like (DMPL) finishes, and collector proof specimens.

PL (Proof-Like) means the coin’s flat background areas — called fields — show some mirror-like reflectivity, created when coins are struck from fresh, lightly polished dies. DMPL (Deep Mirror Proof-Like) indicates an even more intense mirror reflection, visible from at least 8 inches, often paired with frosted raised design elements.

If you already know the grade of your coin, use the Value Guides below to find an exact price.

Also Read: Top 100 Rarest Silver Dollar Coins Worth Money (Most Expensive)

 

Top 10 Most Valuable 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar Worth Money

The auction record for any 1879 Morgan Dollar belongs to the Carson City issue. An 1879-CC graded PCGS MS66+ realized $192,000 at Heritage Auctions on January 12, 2023. According to CoinWeek, the PCGS population for the 1879-CC at MS66+ stands at just 2 examples as of September 2025 — making this a genuine condition rarity.

The 1879-O Proof specimens are arguably even rarer as a class. Only 12 were originally struck on February 20, 1879, to mark the New Orleans Mint’s reopening, and just four examples are known to survive today. These branch-mint proofs have traded for close to $200,000 on the rare occasions they appear publicly.

The 1879-CC VAM-3 Capped Die in DMPL grades also commands extraordinary sums. The top-pop PCGS MS64+DMPL CAC example brought $120,000 at Heritage Auctions on January 10, 2023.

A strong secondary tier belongs to the 1879-S Reverse of 1878 variety. One MS66 example sold for $63,250 at Heritage Auctions — a reminder that even San Francisco coins from this year can surprise collectors.

The 1879-CC MS65+ from “The Breezy Palms Collection” sold at Heritage on July 17, 2025, for $40,800, confirming that demand for this key date remains active heading into 2026.

The price gaps between adjacent grade levels — especially MS65 to MS66 for Carson City — reflect the severe scarcity at the top of PCGS and NGC population reports.

 

History of the 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar

The 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar was born from political conflict over American monetary policy.

After the Coinage Act of 1873 effectively demonetized silver — a move Western mining interests bitterly called the “Crime of ’73” — Congress fought back. The result was the Bland-Allison Act, signed into law on February 28, 1878, after President Rutherford B. Hayes’s veto was overridden. The act required the U.S. Treasury to purchase between $2 million and $4 million worth of silver bullion each month and coin it into silver dollars.

The coin’s design came from George T. Morgan, a British-born engraver recruited to the Philadelphia Mint in 1876 as Assistant Engraver. Morgan modeled Liberty’s portrait on Philadelphia schoolteacher Anna Willess Williams, whose elegant profile appeared on multiple pattern designs before the final coin was approved.

The first Morgan Dollar was struck on March 11, 1878, at 3:17 p.m. at the Philadelphia Mint. That first coin was given to President Hayes; the second and third went to Treasury Secretary John Sherman and Mint Director Henry Linderman.

By 1879, production had expanded significantly. The New Orleans Mint, closed since 1861 at the onset of the Civil War, was officially reopened. Coinage operations commenced there on February 20, 1879, under Superintendent Henry S. Foote — delayed slightly by a yellow fever epidemic that slowed the arrival of experienced mechanics, as documented in the Annual Report of the Director of the Mint for 1879.

The Carson City Mint faced serious headwinds in 1879. Washington noted that despite CC’s proximity to the Comstock Lode, silver bullion was actually more expensive there than in San Francisco, and shipping finished coins was costlier too. The mint received instructions to wind down operations in January and experienced a production halt from March through June before resuming.

The Bland-Allison Act was eventually replaced by the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1890, which required even greater monthly silver purchases. When silver reserves were exhausted, production of Morgan Dollars stopped in 1904. The Pittman Act of 1918 then authorized the melting of up to 350 million silver dollars to sell bullion to Great Britain during World War I. Over 270 million silver dollars were ultimately melted — reducing the surviving population of many dates dramatically and creating the scarcity collectors chase today.

Also Read: Top 100 Most Valuable Morgan Silver Dollar Coins Worth Money List

 

Is Your 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar Rare?

Discover your coin’s true rarity with the Coin Identifier and Value App, which provides precise rarity scores and rankings across the entire Morgan Dollar series, helping you understand exactly where your 1879 Morgan stands among collectors worldwide.

 

Key Features of the 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar

The 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar is the second issue of an iconic series designed by George T. Morgan, produced under the Bland-Allison Act’s silver-purchase mandate.

Business strikes were minted at Philadelphia (no mint mark), San Francisco (“S”), Carson City (“CC”), and — for the first time — New Orleans (“O”). Proof versions for collectors were struck at Philadelphia, with the extraordinary New Orleans presentation proofs representing a separate class entirely.

The Obverse of the 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar

The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Liberty, modeled on Philadelphia schoolteacher Anna Willess Williams. Liberty wears a Phrygian cap — a classical symbol of freedom — adorned with cotton and wheat representing the post-Civil War reconciliation of North and South.

The word “LIBERTY” is inscribed on the headband across Liberty’s forehead. The Latin motto “E PLURIBUS UNUM” (Out of Many, One) arcs across the upper field, with 13 stars representing the original colonies encircling the design.

The date “1879” appears at the bottom. Designer George T. Morgan’s initial “M” is located at the truncation of Liberty’s neck — a small but important authentication point for identifying genuine examples.

The Reverse of the 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar

A bald eagle with outstretched wings dominates the reverse, clutching an olive branch (symbolizing peace) in one talon and three arrows (symbolizing readiness to defend) in the other. “IN GOD WE TRUST” appears between the eagle’s wings.

“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” forms the outer rim inscription, and “ONE DOLLAR” appears at the bottom. The mint mark, when present, is located on the reverse above the “DO” in “DOLLAR.” Morgan’s “M” also appears on the ribbon tying the wreath at the base of the design.

Other Features of the 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar

The 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar is composed of 90% silver and 10% copper, weighing 26.73 grams (412.5 grains) with a pure silver content of 0.7734 troy ounces. The diameter is 38.1 mm with a reeded (ridged) edge for security and easy identification.

Notably, the 1879-S exists with two distinct reverse designs that carry real value differences. The Reverse of 1878 (also called the Second Reverse) shows a flat or concave eagle breast with the top arrow feather running parallel to the others. The Reverse of 1879 (Third Reverse) shows a rounder, more convex breast with a prominently slanted top arrow feather. According to Q. David Bowers’s Silver Dollars & Trade Dollars of the United States (Bowers and Merena Galleries, 1993), six different Reverse of 1878 dies were used for a portion of the 1879-S coinage.

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1879 Morgan Silver Dollar Mintage & Survival Data

Total combined production across all four mint facilities in 1879 was 27,560,100 coins. Philadelphia led with 14,806,000 pieces, San Francisco produced 9,110,000, New Orleans struck 2,887,000 in its inaugural year, and Carson City contributed just 756,000. An additional 1,100 proof strikes were produced at Philadelphia.

Survival rates across facilities tell dramatically different stories.

The 1879-S has the highest survival rate at 21.32%. Most of its original mintage remained in storage at the San Francisco Mint through 1913, then was released over decades — particularly in 1942 (when many bags were distributed), throughout the 1950s, and during the 1962–1964 Treasury silver dollar releases. John Kamin estimated in The Forecaster (September 15, 1971) that roughly 10% of the entire original 1879-S mintage — nearly a million coins — was released in the 1962–1964 window alone. The Redfield estate hoard and the Continental Illinois Bank hoard added still more surviving 1879-S examples to the market.

The 1879-CC sits at the opposite extreme with a survival rate of just 1.97%. According to PCGS estimates, only about 14,900 coins survive from the original 756,000 mintage. The GSA Hoard — the largest-known stockpile of Carson City Morgans, distributed by the General Services Administration beginning in 1972 — contained only 4,123 examples of the 1879-CC, compared to hundreds of thousands of examples from the 1880–1885 CC dates. Only 207 examples grade MS65 or higher across PCGS and NGC combined. For comparison, the 1880-CC shows 9,750 examples at MS65+, and the 1881-CC shows 22,000 — underscoring just how much scarcer the 1879-CC is at the gem level.

The 1879-O survival rate of 13.81% reflects a challenging first year of operation, with many coins showing weak strikes due to production pressures. The Philadelphia issue shows a 10.10% survival rate — typical for the series, reflecting losses from the Pittman Act meltings. The Pittman Act (signed by Senator Key Pittman of Nevada on April 23, 1918) authorized the melting of up to 350 million silver dollars; ultimately over 270 million were destroyed, with no records kept of which specific dates were melted.

Among proof varieties, the CAM (Cameo) designation — meaning frosted devices contrast against mirror fields — shows a 61.82% survival rate among originally minted proofs, while the DCAM (Deep Cameo) designation survives at just 3.64%.

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The Easy Way to Know Your 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar Value

Determining your coin’s value starts with four things: mint mark, grade, surface designation, and originality.

Finding the mint mark: Flip the coin to the reverse and look just above the letters “DO” in “DOLLAR,” right below the ribbon tying the wreath. No mark means Philadelphia; “S” is San Francisco; “O” is New Orleans; “CC” is Carson City — and “CC” immediately signals a far more valuable coin.

Understanding grades: Coin grades run on the Sheldon Scale from 1 (barely identifiable) to 70 (perfect). For Morgan Dollars, the most important threshold is MS (Mint State) — meaning no wear at all. MS grades run from MS60 to MS70. The higher the grade, the more valuable the coin, especially above MS65. PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company) are the two major third-party grading services; their certified slabs (plastic holders) confirm both grade and authenticity.

Checking for surface designations: PL (Proof-Like) coins have semi-reflective fields, created when struck from lightly polished, relatively fresh dies. DMPL (Deep Mirror Proof-Like) coins show intense, glassy mirror surfaces visible from 8+ inches. DMPL Morgans can command 3x to 10x the value of a standard coin at the same grade.

Preserving originality: Never clean your coins — even with gentle polishes. Two coins graded identically at auction can produce wildly different results if one has been cleaned. Auction data from CoinStudy shows a cleaned 1879-CC in VF condition drew just $276, while a naturally preserved example with the same grade level of wear sold for $920. Professional graders can detect cleaning that is invisible to the naked eye, and cleaned coins are often designated “details” grades with lower values.

Recognizing attractive toning: Natural toning — silver reacting slowly with sulfur in the environment — can actually increase a coin’s value when it produces vibrant, even rainbow colors across the surface. Blotchy, dark, or uneven toning is generally viewed negatively. Original rainbow-toned 1879-CC and 1879-S examples regularly attract premiums above standard certified prices.

Accurately determining your 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar’s true market value requires expert analysis of all these factors combined — which is why the Coin Identifier and Value App provides instant, comprehensive valuations by analyzing your coin’s grade, mint mark, variety, and current market conditions in seconds.

 

1879 Morgan Silver Dollar Value Guides

• 1879 No Mint Mark Morgan Silver Dollar (Philadelphia)
• 1879-CC Morgan Silver Dollar
• 1879-O Morgan Silver Dollar (New Orleans)
• 1879-S Morgan Silver Dollar (San Francisco)
• 1879 Proof Morgan Silver Dollar (Philadelphia)
• 1879 Proof CAM Morgan Silver Dollar (Philadelphia)
• 1879 Proof DCAM Morgan Silver Dollar (Philadelphia)
• 1879-O 4 Known Proof BN Morgan Silver Dollar

Values for the 1879 Morgan Dollar range from modest circulated specimens worth a few times silver melt, all the way to extraordinary six-figure rarities at the top of the condition census.

The single most important factor across all 1879 Morgan varieties is grade — particularly at the MS65 threshold and above, where populations thin sharply and prices escalate rapidly. Surface designation (standard, PL, or DMPL) adds a second major layer of value above and beyond the grade itself.

 

1879 No Mint Mark Morgan Silver Dollar Value

The 1879 No Mint Mark Morgan Silver Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint with a mintage of 14,806,000 coins — the highest production among the four 1879 facilities. As the country’s main mint, Philadelphia operated without a mint mark, so the absence of a letter on the reverse confirms this origin.

This is the most accessible 1879 Morgan for new collectors. Typical circulated examples trade around $50, while MS60 specimens reach about $95 and MS65 coins command around $525. At MS66 and above, genuine scarcity sets in — nearly 150 years of survival has winnowed the population significantly.

Top-tier MS67 examples have achieved auction prices up to $38,500. The PCGS population report at MS67 is extremely thin, confirming that very few Philadelphia pieces survived in truly exceptional condition.

Surface designations add substantial premium at this date. DMPL (Deep Mirror Proof-Like) Philadelphia coins — struck from the freshest, most polished dies at the beginning of a die’s working life — can command dramatic multiples over standard MS prices. A common-date Morgan in MS65 DMPL can be worth $2,000–$4,000 vs. $525 for a standard MS65, illustrating the powerful premium these surfaces command.

 

1879-CC Morgan Silver Dollar Value

The 1879-CC Morgan Silver Dollar is the single most important 1879 date for collectors — and one of the most coveted Carson City issues in the entire Morgan Dollar series. With a mintage of just 756,000, struck across two separate production runs before the mint suspended operations, this coin carries genuine historical and numismatic scarcity.

Circulated examples typically range from $200 to $3,200 depending on grade. High-grade uncirculated specimens command $8,000 to $24,000, with exceptional pieces climbing much higher.

The top of the population is remarkably thin. According to PCGS and CoinWeek data (September 2025), PCGS has certified only 2 examples at MS66+, NGC has certified only 1 at MS66, and CAC has stickered 2 at MS66. No example has ever been graded MS67 by any service — a stunning condition rarity for a coin with a mintage that, while small, still ran into the hundreds of thousands.

Surface designations drive the highest prices. PL examples can reach around $35,000 in MS65, while the top-pop PCGS MS64+DMPL CAC example — the sole finest known DMPL — realized $120,000 at Heritage Auctions (January 10, 2023). The 1879-CC’s non-rusted (clear CC) variety has a PCGS-certified population roughly twice that of the Capped Die variety; even so, hundreds of MS63 and MS64 examples have been graded, keeping prices at those levels more accessible while still reflecting the coin’s desirability.

From a collecting standpoint, acquiring any 1879-CC in any grade is considered a meaningful milestone. Gem examples (MS65 and above) are a genuine challenge even for experienced collectors.

 

1879-O Morgan Silver Dollar Value

The 1879-O Morgan Silver Dollar holds a unique historical distinction: it was the first Morgan Dollar struck at the New Orleans Mint, which had been closed since April 1861 when Louisiana seceded from the Union at the start of the Civil War. Coinage operations resumed February 20, 1879, under Superintendent Henry S. Foote, with a mintage of 2,887,000 pieces.

The Annual Report of the Director of the Mint for 1879 noted that the New Orleans Mint struggled to obtain sufficient silver bullion during its first year — sharing the same supply difficulties experienced at San Francisco and Carson City. Production was rushed to meet Bland-Allison Act quotas, resulting in many coins with weaker-than-ideal strikes. Experienced numismatist Q. David Bowers described many surviving 1879-O examples as “sliders” — coins that circulated briefly before returning to banks — and noted that gem-quality examples are genuinely scarce.

Standard MS65 examples typically command around $2,750. PL (Proof-Like) specimens range from $300 to $11,500 depending on grade, while top-quality DMPL specimens can reach $40,000. An MS66DMPL example achieved $34,800 at Heritage Auctions in January 2024, confirming continued collector appetite for premium-quality first-year New Orleans issues.

 

1879-S Morgan Silver Dollar Value

The 1879-S Morgan Silver Dollar, struck at San Francisco’s famous “Granite Lady” mint with a mintage of 9,110,000, is one of the most plentiful and best-struck issues in the entire series. From 1879 through 1883, the San Francisco Mint struck only silver dollars — no dimes, quarters, or halves — because smaller denominations were already oversupplied by the Treasury. This focused production resulted in consistently well-struck coins with strong luster and excellent detail.

Most of the original mintage sat in Treasury vaults for decades, released gradually through 1942, the 1950s, and the massive 1962–1964 Treasury releases. The Redfield estate and Continental Illinois Bank hoards preserved additional quantities in pristine condition.

The result: the 1879-S is one of the most available Morgan Dollars in high grades. Standard MS grades range from about $72 to $312 depending on condition, while MS68 specimens command $3,600–$5,400. An MS68+ example achieved $32,900 at auction in December 2014, illustrating the premium for the very finest survivors.

DMPL (Deep Mirror Proof-Like) 1879-S examples are reasonably findable through MS65, but become considerably more challenging above that, with PCGS CoinFacts confirming that MS66 DMPL pieces are genuinely scarce. Values for the finest DMPL examples reach $14,500 and beyond.

The 1879-S Reverse of 1878 is the key variety to watch for — more on that in the Error and Variety section below.

 

1879 Proof Morgan Silver Dollar Value

The 1879 Proof Morgan Silver Dollar was struck exclusively at the Philadelphia Mint with a mintage of 1,100 pieces. Proof coins are specially produced using polished dies and hand-selected planchets to achieve mirror-like surfaces and sharper-than-normal design details. They were sold directly to collectors, not released into circulation.

More than half of the original mintage is believed to survive, making entry-level examples relatively accessible. Most survivors grade PR64 or below; PR65 and PR66 pieces are considerably scarcer, and PR67 examples are rare.

Even relatively modest PR63 examples are valued above $4,000, reflecting the coin’s early-series status and collector demand. The grading challenge for proofs isn’t rarity at the entry level — it’s finding examples with bold contrast, strong eye appeal, and original surfaces free from cleaning or hairlines.

 

1879 Proof CAM Morgan Silver Dollar Value

The 1879 Proof CAM (Cameo) Morgan Silver Dollar features frosted raised design elements contrasting against mirror-polished flat background fields. CAM — short for Cameo — describes this two-tone visual effect, where Liberty’s portrait and the eagle stand out crisply against the glassy field, almost like a cameo brooch.

On 1879 proofs, the cameo designation applies to the majority of surviving examples, since they were struck from relatively fresh dies early in their life. Non-cameo proofs are actually less common in this year, while DCAM (Deep Cameo) represents only a small portion.

PR64 CAM examples typically range from $5,100–$5,400; PR65 reaches about $7,800; and PR66 pieces command $9,000–$9,400. Most surviving pieces fall in the PR60–64 range, with PR65 and higher CAM pieces requiring patience to locate.

 

1879 Proof DCAM Morgan Silver Dollar Value

The 1879 Proof DCAM (Deep Cameo) Morgan Silver Dollar represents the pinnacle of the Philadelphia proof production from this year. DCAM describes the dramatic visual effect of deeply mirrored fields — you can see a clear reflection from inches away — combined with heavily frosted devices that appear almost white against the dark mirror background.

DCAM coins come from the very earliest strikes off freshly polished dies, before die polish starts to wear away. Even within the small 1,100-piece proof mintage, only a fraction achieves this level of contrast.

A PR66 DCAM example has realized $21,000 at auction. Standard proof prices for this year range from $775 to $11,500 depending on grade and designation. The survival rate for DCAM-designated 1879 proofs is just 3.64% of the total proof population — confirming their scarcity relative to both CAM and standard proof pieces.

 

1879-O 4 Known Proof BM Morgan Silver Dollar Value

Only 12 pieces were minted on February 20, 1879, to commemorate the reopening of the New Orleans Mint following its 18-year closure. Today only four examples are known to survive, making this one of the rarest coins in all of American numismatics. Wayne Miller’s second edition of his Morgan and Peace Dollar Textbook lists this as the #1 specimen among branch-mint Morgan proof rarities.

This coin is unique in that it was struck from dies not used in regular production — diagnostics include an overpolished area at the back of Liberty’s neck leaving a distinct “island” of metal, faint die rust traces on “NUM” of “UNUM,” and a spot of die rust between the first tail feather and second leaf below. These features allow experts to authenticate genuine examples.

One PR64 specimen realized $184,000 at auction in March 2010. That same coin had previously sold for $37,400 in 1995 — a 392% appreciation over 15 years — illustrating the extraordinary long-term value trajectory of extreme numismatic rarities. Another source documents a PR-64 example realizing $176,250 in 2013, consistent with the sustained six-figure demand for this issue.

Also Read: 17 Rare Dollar Coin Errors List with Pictures (By Year)

 

Rare 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar Error & Variety List

The 1879 Morgan Dollar series includes a range of actively collected error varieties — from dramatic die-rust errors at Carson City to repunched mint marks at New Orleans, to important reverse design differences at San Francisco. Many were unknown to most collectors until specialists began cataloging them in the 1980s and 1990s, and market premiums continue to develop as awareness grows.

Understanding these errors can turn a “common” 1879 Morgan into a significantly more valuable coin.

1. 1879-CC Capped Die Morgan Silver Dollar

The 1879-CC Capped Die error is caused by a rusted die that obscured and distorted the CC mint mark. It’s a die rust error — when dies are improperly stored in humid conditions, oxidation transfers to struck coins as raised texture, pits, or filled-in areas around the mint mark zone.

For the 1879-CC, PCGS CoinFacts notes the non-rusted (clear CC) variety has a population roughly twice that of the Capped Die, making the Capped Die moderately scarcer. Circulated Capped Die examples typically range from $160 to $3,850. Mint State specimens range from $4,250 to $50,000. PL examples run $3,200 to $60,000 at auction, while DMPL Capped Die specimens command $7,200 to $120,000.

1879-CC VAM 3, Capped Die Morgan Silver Dollar

The VAM-3 Capped Die is a specific variety within the Capped Die family. VAM stands for Van Allen-Mallis — referring to Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis, the two numismatists who published Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan and Peace Dollars in 1971, cataloging hundreds of die varieties.

In late 1878 or early 1879, a reverse die was first punched with the older small CC mint mark. Before use, a decision was made to apply the newer, larger CC punch — but it was applied too low, leaving the tops of the small CCs visible above the larger ones, resembling “caps” or “hats.” The Mint engraver tried to conceal the original CCs by tapping around the mint mark area with a blank punch. A press operator later further damaged the zone. According to Van Allen-Mallis, 3rd edition, this resulted in the distinctive capped appearance that gave the variety its name.

1879-O VAM 4/28 O/Horizontal O Morgan Silver Dollar

The 1879-O VAM-4 O/Horizontal O is a Top 100 Morgan Dollar variety, meaning it is recognized by PCGS and NGC as one of the most collectible die varieties in the entire series. The original description notes that the O mint mark was first punched into the die in a horizontal position — rotated 90 degrees — before being corrected with a standard vertical O punch. The remnants of the earlier horizontal O are visible in the center of the final mint mark.

PCGS CoinFacts cites numismatist Jeff Oxman of the Society of Silver Dollar Collectors, who notes that the prevailing view describes this as an “O over horizontal O” variety, though some specialists believe it is actually an O/O/O with impressions both north and south.

1879-S Reverse Of 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar

The 1879-S Reverse of 1878 is the key variety to watch for in any San Francisco Morgan from this year. It uses a holdover die from 1878, identifiable by the eagle’s flat or concave breast and a top arrow feather that runs parallel to the rest of the arrows — rather than slanting as on the standard 1879 reverse.

This variety was discovered in the 1980s, and John Highfill devoted a separate chapter to it in his 1992 book The Comprehensive U.S. Silver Dollar Encyclopedia. The Reverse of 1878 is included in the Top 100 Morgan Dollar Varieties list.

Average circulated examples trade around $147, while uncirculated specimens range from $1,012 to $9,933. MS66 examples have sold at Heritage Auctions for $63,250 — a remarkable result for what appears at first glance to be a common-date San Francisco Morgan.

1879-S VAM Reverse of 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar

Six distinct Reverse of 1878 dies were used for a portion of 1879-S coinage, creating multiple distinct VAM varieties within this group. One of the most interesting is VAM-34B, discovered in September 2003.

VAM-34B is identified by a vertical gouge in the base of the eagle’s left wing and a short die gouge running from the left edge of one of the upper cotton leaves. Most of the roughly two dozen known VAM-34B examples are in the Very Fine grade range, making higher-grade survivors particularly valuable to dedicated variety collectors.

 

Where to Sell Your 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar?

Whether selling through auction houses, certified dealers, or online platforms, understanding your 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar’s specific variety, condition, and current market demand will help you achieve the best possible price.

Check out now: Best Places To Sell Coins Online (Pros & Cons)

 

1879 Morgan Silver Dollar Market Trend

*Market Trend Chart showing the number of people paying attention to this coin.

 

FAQ About the 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar Value

1. What is the 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar worth today?

Values range from around $50 for a worn Philadelphia example to $192,000 for an 1879-CC in MS66+ condition sold at Heritage Auctions in January 2023. Most circulated 1879 Morgans trade between $50–$200, while mint-state examples range from $95 (MS60 Philadelphia) to over $50,000 for high-grade Carson City specimens.

2. What factors most affect the 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar value?

The four main factors are mint mark, grade, surface designation (standard/PL/DMPL), and originality (never cleaned). A “CC” mint mark immediately sets a coin apart from other 1879 issues. Surface designations like DMPL can multiply a coin’s value 3x–10x over a standard example at the same grade. A cleaned coin can lose 50% or more of its value versus an original-surface piece.

3. What is the difference between Reverse of 1878 and Reverse of 1879?

The Reverse of 1878 — found only on some 1879-S dollars — shows an eagle with a flat or concave breast and a top arrow feather running parallel to the others. The Reverse of 1879 shows a rounder, more convex breast and a prominently slanted top arrow feather. This is a naked-eye difference that can be confirmed without magnification on well-preserved coins.

4. How do I identify the 1879-CC Capped Die variety?

Look for a distorted, blob-like, or filled-in appearance around the CC mint mark on the reverse. On clear-CC examples, the two C’s are sharply defined. On the Capped Die, the mint mark area appears rough or obscured, with a bumpy field around it caused by die chips from the repair work. PCGS CoinFacts notes the non-rusted clear-CC variety is about twice as common as the Capped Die in certified populations.

5. Where is the mint mark on an 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar?

The mint mark is on the reverse side, positioned above the “DO” in “DOLLAR,” just below the ribbon tying the laurel wreath. No mark means Philadelphia; “S” means San Francisco; “O” means New Orleans; “CC” means Carson City. The “CC” is the most valuable designation.

6. How many 1879-CC Morgan Dollars survive today?

PCGS estimates approximately 14,900 total survivors from the original mintage of 756,000 — a survival rate of just 1.97%. Only 4,123 appeared in the GSA Hoard, compared to hundreds of thousands of other Carson City dates from 1880–1885. As of September 2025, only 207 examples grade MS65 or higher across all grading services combined.

7. What are PCGS and NGC, and why does certification matter?

PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company) are the two most trusted third-party coin grading services. They authenticate coins, assign grades on the 1–70 Sheldon Scale, and seal coins in tamper-evident plastic holders called “slabs.” For any 1879 Morgan Dollar worth more than its silver melt value, professional certification protects both buyer and seller, confirms authenticity, and typically increases the price a coin will achieve at auction.

8. Should I clean my 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar before selling it?

Never clean a coin — not with polish, soap, water, or any other method. Even a gentle cleaning destroys microscopic surface detail and creates hairline scratches that expert graders can detect under magnification. A cleaned 1879-CC VF-grade example can draw $276 at auction; the same coin with original, untouched surfaces might fetch $920 or more. Cleaning permanently reduces a coin’s grade, value, and collector appeal.

9. What is the most valuable error on an 1879 Morgan Silver Dollar?

The 1879-CC VAM-3 Capped Die in MS64+DMPL CAC — the single finest DMPL example certified by PCGS — realized $120,000 at Heritage Auctions on January 10, 2023. Among non-CC varieties, the 1879-S Reverse of 1878 in MS66 sold for $63,250 at Heritage Auctions. For pure rarity, the 1879-O 4 Known Proof at PR64 realized $184,000 in March 2010.

10. What happened to most 1879 Morgan Silver Dollars — why are so few in top grades?

Three main forces reduced the surviving population. First, normal circulation wear damaged many coins over decades of use. Second, the Pittman Act of 1918 authorized the melting of over 270 million silver dollars to fund Great Britain’s World War I silver needs — individual dates were never recorded, so we don’t know exactly which 1879 coins were destroyed. Third, the 1879-CC specifically was underrepresented in the GSA Hoard (only 4,123 pieces), meaning fewer Carson City coins from this date survived in uncirculated condition than other CC dates. Together these factors created the condition rarity that drives today’s premium prices for top-grade examples.