1889 Silver Dollar Value

The first Morgan dollars made of 90% silver appeared in circulation in 1878, and the US Mint continued striking them until 1904, with one more attempt in 1921. Besides their beauty, these coins are a valuable part of American coinage history.

Despite high mintage, most Morgans were melted in the meantime, so the number of perfectly-preserved ones is limited. When you add their silver content, it is clear that the 1889 silver dollar value can be significant.

1889 Morgan Silver dollar value

Condition 1889 No Mint mark silver dollar 1889 CC silver dollar 1889 O silver dollar 1889 S silver dollar
Good $37 $875 $40 $55
Very good $38 $1,150 $40 $60
Fine $40 $1,550 $42 $75
Very fine $42 $2,250 $50 $80
Extra fine $46 $4,750 $65 $115
AU $50 $9,500 $130 $160
Mint state 60 $72 $32,500 $300 $300
Mint state 65 $350 $375,000 $3,150 $1,800
Proof 63 $4,250 / / /

 

History of the 1889 Morgan Silver Dollar

History of the 1889 Morgan Silver Dollar

Silver Morgan dollars (Cartwheels) had the highest circulation in the West part of the US, where these heavy and sizable coins got the nickname. The US Mint produced them in five mints from 1878 to 1904, plus there was one reissue in 1921.

It was a result of the largest silver deposit found in Comstock Lode, Nevada, in 1859. After a pause in 1873, the Bland-Allison Act reintroduced silver coins into circulation and made silver legal tender actual again.

Thanks to decreasing silver supply in the early 1900s, numerous Morgans were melted in 1918, and the government sold precious metal abroad. That was a reason for that additional minting in 1921.

1889 Morgan Silver dollar Types

Location Year Minted
Philadelphia 1889 No Mint mark dollar 21,726,000
Philadelphia 1889 proof dollar 811
Carson City 1889 CC dollar 350,000
New Orleans 1889 O dollar 11,875,000
San Francisco 1889 S dollar 700,000
Total / 34,651,811

Nowadays, it is challenging to complete the Morgan dollar collection, one of the most appreciated and desired in American coinage. Some year-date issues are scarce, hard to reach, and expensive because all yearly mintages were melted with only a few exceptions.

Also read: 12 Most Valuable One-Dollar Coin Worth Money

Features of the 1889 Morgan Silver Dollar

Morgan dollars are beautiful one-dollar coins made of precious metal. After engraver George Thomas Morgan finished the unique design full of American symbols, the US Mint produced coins from 1878 to 1904, with a special issue in 1921.

1881-Morgan-Silver-Dollar

George Morgan created one-dollar coins with a bust of Lady Liberty on the obverse, following the previous Trade dollar design actual from 1873 to 1885. However, he departed the previously preferred classical Greek style, and the new American coin style occurred. It was surrounded by ✶✶✶✶✶✶✶E·PLURIBUS·UNUM ✶✶✶✶✶✶1881.

The 1889 Morgan dollar (silver) – reverse

1889 No Mint mark Morgan silver dollar

The 1889 Morgan dollar reverse includes an American bald eagle, arrows, and olive branches, describing the young nation’s future policy. Inscriptions include the following:

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  • ✶UNITED STATES OF AMERICA✶ONE DOLLAR
  • In God We Trust
  • The mint mark when existing (S, O, or CC)

1889 Morgan dollar (silver) Details

Face value A one-dollar silver coin ($1)
Shape Round
Compound 90% silver and 10% copper
Coin thickness 2.40 mm (0.0945 inches)
Coin weight 0.8594 troy ounces (26.73 g)
Silver weight 0.77344 troy ounces (24.5 g)
Coin diameter 38.10 mm (1.50 inches)
Edge Reeded

The 1889 Morgan dollar (silver) – other features

The 1889 Morgan one-dollar coins are made of silver and copper (90%: 10%). Their total weight is 0.8594 troy ounces (26.73 g), while the precious metal participates with 0.77344 troy ounces (24.50 g). All these pieces have a reeded edge, a diameter of 38.10 mm (1.50 inches), and a thickness of 2.40 mm (0.0945 inches).

Also read: 14 Most Valuable Coins In Circulation

1889 Morgan Silver Dollar Grading

Like all other American coins, the 1889 Morgan dollars made of silver come in various conditions. So, a grading system is the best way of estimating their prices. It considers each piece’s strike quality, wear, possible flaws, scratches, and damage appearing over time.

# Grade
1 Basal State-1
2 Fair
3 Very Fair
4, 5, 6 Good
7, 8, 10 Very Good
12, 15 Fine
20, 30 Very Fine
40 Extremely Fine
50 About Uncirculated
60 Mint State
65 Mint State
70 Mint State

Please check our grading guides to know your coin scale, It’s the necessary step to know the exact value of your coin.

Check out now: How to Grade Morgan Silver Dollar?

1889 Morgan Silver Dollar Value Guides

Four mints produced 34,651,811 silver Morgans in 1889, but you could recognize five variations. One was proofs, while four coin types were from regular strikes.

1889 No Mint mark Morgan silver dollar Value

1889 No Mint mark Morgan silver dollar

In 1889, the mint in Philadelphia produced a significant number of 21,726,000 silver Morgans. Typically to this time, these coins came without the mint mark on the reverse side. Despite the age, most circulated silver dollars minted this year cost $34 to $48.

Even the value of pieces in uncirculated condition is relatively moderate, and you can buy one for $50 to $70. However, higher-grader specimens often cost more, approximately $72 to $975.

The real surprise comes with the highest-ranking Morgans (in MS 67 and MS 68 grades), which price range is from $17,500 to $37,500. Besides standard silver dollars from Philadelphia, you can also choose a proof-like piece for $90 to $3,500, depending on the condition.

Those with DMPL characteristics cost more, from $315 for a piece in MS 62 grade to $12,500 for the one ranking MS 66. The 1889 MS 68 dollar is the best-paid in the set since one collector bought it for $25,300 in 2009.

1889 proof Morgan silver dollar Value

1889 proof Morgan silver dollar

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Since the mint in Philadelphia minted only 811 Morgan proof dollars in 1889, you can expect them to be costly. Even the ones in the lowest collectible grade are worth at least $1,000. Better-ranking pieces often reach better prices, like:

  • PR 60-graded coin costs $2,200
  • PR 61-graded coin costs $2,750
  • PR 62-graded coin costs $3,100
  • PR 63-graded coin costs $4,250
  • PR 64-graded coin costs $5,250
  • PR 65-graded coin costs $7,000
  • PR 66-graded coin costs $9,500
  • PR 67-graded coin costs $28,000
  • PR 68-graded coin costs $50,000

Besides these proofs, you can find 1889 PR CAM Morgans at prices of $2,700 to $80,000. On the other hand, those with deep cameo contrast in the PR 66 grade are estimated to be $25,000.

The auction record went to the 1889 PR 68 CAM silver Morgan in 2011 when one collector paid $74,750 to add this beautiful piece to their collection.

1881 O Morgan silver dollar Value

1881 O Morgan silver dollar

Precisely 11,875,000 Morgans came from the mint in New Orleans in 1889. Since most spent a long time circulating, their current price is a reasonable $40 to $285. Pieces in pristine condition cost $300 to $18,500, and only proof-like ones are more valuable.

The 1889 O PL silver dollar typically costs $460 to $27,500, while you need to set aside $575 (MS 61 grade) to $8,500 (MS 65 grade) for the 1889 O DMPL silver dollars.

The list of the most expensive Morgans with the O mint mark includes the one in the MS 66+ rank. Its price was $44,650 in 2019, but the less-graded piece with DMPL reached $84,000 at an auction in 2019.

1889 CC Morgan silver dollar Value

1889 CC Morgan silver dollar

In 1889, the Carson City mint had a low mintage of 350,000 CC silver Morgan dollars, affecting the current price of the remaining coins. Even circulated pieces are expensive, ranging from $585 to $22,500.

On the other hand, the most inexpensive coins in the mint state are worth $30,000. Higher-ranking ones are rare and reach fantastic prices at auctions, like:

  • $37,500 for MS 61 graded silver dollars
  • $42,500 for MS 62 graded silver dollars
  • $47,500 for MS 63 graded silver dollars
  • $125,000 for MS 64 graded silver dollars
  • $375,000 for MS 65 graded silver dollars
  • $750,000 for MS 66 graded silver dollars
  • $850,000 for MS 67 graded silver dollars

Believe it or not, the estimated price for the 1889 CC Morgan with the MS 68 grade is $1,000,000. By now, the most expensive piece was paid $881,250 in 2013.

Depending on the preservation level, you can also find the 1889 CC PL silver dollars with an average price of $32,500 to $425,000. The DMPL coins typically cost $36,000 to $300,000, but the best-graded specimens are those in MS 64 grade.

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1889 S Morgan silver dollar Value

1889 S Morgan silver dollar

The San Francisco mint produced twice as many silver dollars in 1889 as the one in Carlson City. Any survived of 700,000 minted pieces in circulated condition cost $60 to $285 at the current market.

On the other hand, you need to set aside at least $300 for the one in the MS 60 grade. Better-ranking specimens are worth from $375 to $4,500, besides those with the MS 67. These scarce coins quickly reach $27,000 to $32,400 on eBay or at auctions.

Most 1889 S PL silver dollars cost $450 to $16,500, depending on grade, while deep-mirror proof-like pieces can be expensive. While most cost $550 to $6,000, the rarest and best-looking ones have the estimated price of:

  • MS 65 – $32,500
  • MS 66 – $57,500

However, the most pricey 1889 S MS 66 DMPL silver Morgan was sold at $52,875 in 2020. It is lower than expert assessment, but these coins can be only more expensive as time passes. That makes them an excellent investment.

Also read: Top 10 Most Valuable Morgan Silver Dollar Worth Money

Rare 1889 Morgan Silver Dollar Error List

The 1889 Morgan dollars are silver pieces you can find in several varieties since the US Mint used numerous different dies during production. The best way to determine your coin value is to check the VAM (Van Allen and Mallis) cataloging system.

Collectors have differentiated numerous VAM 1889 Morgan dollar varieties by now, including:

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  • 30 from Philadelphia
  • Over 10 from San Francisco, including the famous Gouged Eagle variety
  • Almost 20 from New Orleans
  • 3 from Carson City

The PCGS’s Top 100 Morgan VAMs list includes four coins minted in 1889, including:

  • THE BAR WING (from Philadelphia)
  • OVAL O (from New Orleans)
  • DOUBLED DATE and CLASHED E (from New Orleans)

Besides, you can find some Morgan errors minted this year, such as:

  • Off-center
  • Double or incomplete strike
  • Clipped planchet
  • Die break
  • Die crack
  • Re-punched mint mark
  • Curved clip
  • Rotated dies

Where to Sell Your 1889 Morgan dollar ?

Now that you know the value of your coins, do you know where to sell those coins online easily? Don’t worry, I’ve compiled a list of these sites, including their introduction, pros, and cons. 

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

FAQ about the 1889 Morgan Dollar (Silver)

What makes an 1889 Morgan dollar (silver) sought-after?

Despite their age, the 1889 silver dollars are abundant nowadays, but coins of the highest quality can be rare and costly. The rarest and most collectible are Morgans from Carson City, thanks to low mintage and only a few survived specimens.

Which 1889 Morgan dollar (silver) is expensive?

  • 1889 CC MS 68 silver dollar reached $881,250 in 2013
  • 1889 CC MS 66 PL silver dollar reached $462,000 in 1997
  • 1889 CC MS 64 DMPL silver dollar reached $228,000 in 2022
  • 1889 O MS 65 DMPL silver dollar reached $84,000 in 2019
  • 1889 PR 68 CAM silver dollar reached $74,750 in 2011
  • 1889 S MS 66 DMPL silver dollar reached $52,875 in 2020
  • 1889 O MS 66+ silver dollar reached $44,650 in 2019
  • 1889 PR 68 silver dollar reached $34,500 in 2006
  • 1889 MS 68 silver dollar reached $25,300 in 2009
  • 1889 PR 66 DCAM silver dollar reached $19,200 in 2022
  • 1889 O MS 65+ PL silver dollar reached $15,275 in 2021
  • 1889 MS 66 DMPL silver dollar reached $13,800 in 2009
  • 1889 S MS 66+ silver dollar reached $16,450 in 2014
  • 1889 S MS 66 PL silver dollar reached $13,225 in 2009
  • 1889 MS 66 PL silver dollar reached $4,313 in 2010

How much is the 1889 Morgan dollar (silver with No Mint mark) worth?

The 1889 Morgans from the mint in Philadelphia that spent some time circulating are worth $32 to $70. Those in the mint state are more valuable, with an average price range from $75 to $950. However, the highest-ranking silver dollars can cost $17,500 to $37,500, depending on appearance.

What is the most costly Morgan dollar (silver)?

  • 1889 CC MS 68 Morgan dollar – $881,250
  • 1886 O MS 67 DMPL Morgan dollar – $780,000
  • 1884 S MS 68 Morgan dollar – $750,000
  • 1893 S MS 65 Morgan dollar – $735,000
  • 1896 S MS 69 Morgan dollar – $720,000

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