1899 Silver Dollar Value Guide

The 1899 Silver Dollar Value

The 1899 silver dollar minted in Philadelphia holds a consistently higher value across the grades up to “extra fine.” 

The 1899-O, 1899-O Micro O, and the 1899-S have comparable values on the grades “good” to “fine.” 

You will see a significant jump in the mint-state values for the circulation strikes.

Aside from the 1899-O “Micro O,” prooflike and deep (mirror) prooflike coins are more valuable than the regular circulation-strike versions.

Proof versions are the most valuable, reaching nearly a hundred thousand. 

An N/A for a value below indicates no publicly known examples of that version of the 1899 silver dollar with that grade, or no value information (or not enough) exists for it yet.

Additionally, all values are conservative estimates based on research. Please note all values are subject to change due to the market or circumstances unaccounted for during research and publication. We always recommend doing further research or consulting with a professional.

Melt Value

The 1899 silver dollar’s melt value is approximately $17. The melt value will fluctuate with the market.

Circulation Strike Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1899 Silver Dollar	1899-O Silver Dollar	1899-O “Micro O” Silver Dollar	1899-S Silver Dollar
Good – G	$123	$35	$45	$42
Very Good – VG	$135	$37	$49	$49
Fine – F	$148	$38	$53	$59
Very Fine – VF	$166	$42	$73	$91
Extra Fine – XF	$191	$49	$114	$136
About Uncirculated – AU	$207-$252	$52-$65	$184-$1,100	$230-$492
Mint State – MS	$283-$23,000 (67+)	$72-$37,000 (68)	$3,600-$82,000 (61-66)	$537-$52,000 (67+)

Circulation Strike Prooflike (PL) Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1899 Prooflike Silver Dollar	1899-O Prooflike Silver Dollar	1899-S Prooflike Silver Dollar
MS 58 PL	N/A	N/A	$502
MS 60 PL	$330	$87	$587
MS 61 PL	$355	$97	$637
MS 62 PL	$430	$137	$750
MS 63 PL	$512	$167	$1,000
MS 64 PL	$650	$250	$1,300
MS 65 PL	$1,500	$562	$2,700
MS 66 PL	$3,300	$1,300	$5,700
MS 67 PL	N/A	$4,600	$33,000
MS 68 PL	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 69 PL	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 70 PL	N/A	N/A	N/A

Circulation Strike Deep (Mirror) Prooflike (DPL/DMPL) Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1899 Deep (Mirror) Prooflike Silver Dollar	1899-O Deep (Mirror) Prooflike Silver Dollar	1899-S Deep (Mirror) Prooflike Silver Dollar
MS 60 DPL/DMPL	$362	$145	$745
MS 61 DPL/DMPL	$412	$190	$862
MS 62 DPL/DMPL	$555	$252	$1,100
MS 63 DPL/DMPL	$762	$437	$2,000
MS 64 DPL/DMPL	$1,300	$625	$5,100
MS 65 DPL/DMPL	$2,300	$1,900	$21,000
MS 66 DPL/DMPL	$7,500	$6,700	$34,000
MS 67 DPL/DMPL	N/A	$21,000	N/A
MS 68 DPL/DMPL	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 69 DPL/DMPL	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 70 DPL/DMPL	N/A	N/A	N/A

Proof Strike (PR) Value Chart

1899 Proof Silver Dollar
Grade Names	Coin Values
PR 40	$732
PR 45	$847
PR 50	$988
PR 53	$1,000
PR 55	$1,200
PR 58	$1,400
PR 60	$1,900
PR 61	$2,100
PR 62	$2,500
PR 63	$3,600
PR 64	$4,700
PR 65	$6,700
PR 66	$8,700
PR 67	$15,000
PR 68	$47,000
PR 69	$94,000
PR 70	N/A

Cameo (CA/CAM) Proof Strike (PR) Value Chart

1899 Cameo Proof Silver Dollar
Grade Name	Coin Value
PR 60 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 61 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 62 CA/CAM	$3,100
PR 63 CA/CAM	$4,300
PR 64 CA/CAM	$5,700
PR 65 CA/CAM	$8,500
PR 66 CA/CAM	$11,000
PR 67 CA/CAM	$20,000
PR 68 CA/CAM	$60,000
PR 69 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 70 CA/CAM	N/A

Ultra/Deep Cameo (UC/DCAM) Proof Strike (PR) Value Chart

1899 Ultra/Deep Cameo Proof Silver Dollar
Grade Name	Coin Value
PR 60 UC/DCAM	N/A
PR 61 UC/DCAM	N/A
PR 62 UC/DCAM	N/A
PR 63 UC/DCAM	N/A
PR 64 UC/DCAM	N/A
PR 65 UC/DCAM	$10,000
PR 66 UC/DCAM	$19,000
PR 67 UC/DCAM	$37,000
PR 68 UC/DCAM	N/A
PR 69 UC/DCAM	N/A
PR 70 UC/DCAM	N/A

What Makes An 1899 Silver Dollar Valuable?

Different factors such as grading, mint marks, strike types, errors, and a coin’s rarity can all add to its value. 

Let’s start with grading.

Grading

As with all coins, the higher the grade, the more the coin will be worth.

However, even the lower grades of circulation-strike 1899 silver dollars are worth at least $35.

The higher grades, which will show less wear and have a better strike quality, can reach over $80,000. 

Due to its rarity, even the lowest “good” grade of the Philadelphia-minted 1899 silver dollar is worth over a hundred dollars. 

Rarity

The Mint minted 1899 silver dollars approximately 15,182,846 times across all of its versions. Please see the following list for the breakdown for each version:

• 1899: 330,000 minted in Philadelphia^1-2
• 1899-O: 12,290,000 minted in New Orleans^3-4
• 1899-S: 2,562,000 minted in San Francisco^7-8
• 1899 Proof: 846 minted in Philadelphia^15-16

1899 is among the lowest mintage years from the Philadelphia Mint for the entire Morgan series.

Due to this low mintage, the 1899 silver dollar from Philadelphia is rare in lower grades, which makes them much more valuable.

Only a small amount of the New Orleans mintage comes with the Micro “O” mint mark. The low amount increases its value.

Attractive prooflike and deep (mirror) prooflike versions are rare for this year. 

Mint Marks

There are 2 mint marks for the 1899 silver dollar:

• “O” for the coins minted in New Orleans^3-4
• “S” for the coins minted in San Francisco^7-8

Coins with no mint mark came from Philadelphia.^1-2

All proof versions came from in Philadelphia, and therefore, none have a mint mark.

The 1899-O silver dollars with the Micro “O” mint mark are consistently valuable and worth the most in mint state grades. 

Up to about uncirculated, coins without a mint mark are the most valuable. The Micro “O” and “S” come in close together as second most valuable. The regular “O” mint mark is the least valuable of the lot. 

Strike Types

The 1899 silver dollar has 2 strike types: circulation and proof.^19-20

Proof strikes also have cameo and ultra/deep cameo versions. 

A Mint always produces a much smaller amount of proof-strike coins than circulation. Therefore, they are more valuable.

The process of striking proof coins differs from circulation coins. The Mint uses special dies, the planchets are highly polished, and each coin is struck multiple times. This, again, adds to their value.

While proof versions normally have grades from 60 and 70, sometimes they can have lower grades, too. These are “impaired” proofs. 

Unfortunately, quite a few of the 1899 proof silver dollars have such grades, some even as low as “extra fine” (40 and 45).

When a proof coin is graded lower than 60, it is usually because it shows signs of wear, as it may have been mistakenly put into circulation or mishandled. It will also have imperfections that don’t meet the proof standards.  

Design Variations

The 1899 silver dollar has no design variations.

Special Designations

Prooflike and deep (mirror) prooflike are the 2 special designations for the 1899 silver dollar.^2,4,8-14

These are still circulation-strike coins, but they exhibit some of the qualities of a proof coin. 

Both these designations increase the value of the coin. 

Error Coins 

Error coins, or mint error coins, can offer interesting and unique “mistakes.” These errors often increase the value of a coin.

There are several known 1899 silver dollar error coins. Some examples of errors which make a coin more valuable are: 

• Die adjustment²⁹ 
• Off-center³⁰
• Broadstrike³¹

Die Varieties

Possibly the most famous die varieties for the 1899 silver dollar are the 1899-O Micro “Os.”

It is uncertain why some of the New Orleans mintage ended up with this Micro “O” mint mark. Some theories suggest a quarter dollar mint mark was mistakenly used.^5,22-24  

VAM varieties for the Micro “O” are 1899-O VAM-4, 1899-O VAM-5, and 1899-O VAM-31, among others.^22-24

These are not to be confused with the counterfeited “Micro Os,” which have been found in the 1896-O, 1900-O, and 1902-O dollars. 

The 1899 Micro “Os” are legitimate Morgan varieties that collectors seek out. These VAMs will increase the coin’s value.

Composition

Made of 90% silver, the 1899 silver dollar will always be worth its weight in silver. 

However, we do not recommend melting your coin. It will be more valuable to sell it than to melt it. 

How Do You Know If You Have A Valuable 1899 Silver Dollar?

The best way to know if you have a valuable 1899 silver dollar (or any coin) and to get that value out of it is to have it professionally certified.

However, you can look for many elements to get you started in determining what coin you have.

Let’s start with grading.

Grading

You’ll want to look for higher grades of the 1899 silver dollar, especially MS 65 and up, as these are worth the most. 

Somewhat unusually for the New Orleans Mint, the 1899-O silver dollars are well-struck and have good frosting and contrast. 

The mint-state grades from San Francisco are equally attractive, with little imperfection or wear. Even the ones released from storage show little damage.   

The 1899 silver dollars from Philadelphia are valuable coins, regardless of grade.

Mint Marks

On the reverse side of your 1899 silver dollar, above the “Do” of “Dollar,” is where you will find the mint mark.

There will be an “O” for New Orleans.^3-4 This can be a regular-sized “O” or the micro “O.” The micro “O” is more valuable, so make sure you check which size you have.

An “S” mint mark will be on coins minted in San Francisco.^7-8 

If your coin doesn’t have a mint mark, then it is from the Philadelphia Mint.^1-2 These are the most valuable for grades below mint state.  

Strike Types

Because of the different and extra measures taken in minting proof coins, they will be much better quality than circulation strikes. 

They will be sharply struck, have clear details, and very few flaws. 

Cameo proof-strike coins show an attractive contrast between the mirrored fields and the frosted devices (such as Lady Liberty). This contrast increases more with ultra/deep cameos. 

If your coin has a lot of scratches or shows signs of wear, then it may be an “impaired” proof. But, even at the lowest grade for an 1899 proof silver dollar, it is still worth at least hundreds of dollars.

Design Variations

The 1899 silver dollar has no design variations.

Special Designations

Determining if you have a prooflike or deep (mirror) prooflike can be difficult. We do recommend working with a professional when determining a special designation for your coin.

But, to get you started, you need to look at your coin’s reflectivity. This is a key element in a prooflike or deep (mirror) prooflike coin.

A deep (mirror) prooflike is the most valuable version, followed by a prooflike and then a regular circulation strike in most cases. 

Error Coins

Below are some tips to help identify if you have a valuable 1899 silver dollar error coin.

Die Adjustment Errors

A die adjustment error occurs when the pressure of the die is changed. This can result in some of the design not being fully struck. 

However, this can be easily confused with a weak strike. 

You will want to examine your coin for areas of weakness in its design. This could be on all of the design or just part of it. 

A known example of an 1899 silver dollar die adjustment error shows this weakness on the stars and the motto around the rim of the coin.  

This is quite a difficult error to establish. You would want to consult with a professional to certify this error.  

Off-Center Errors

Thankfully, this is a much easier error to spot by just looking at your coin. 

The design of your coin will be shifted off-center. This can be in any direction. Depending on the degree to which it is off-center, some of the coin’s design might be missing, and plain metal will fill the remaining space.   

This error happens because of a misalignment of either the die or the planchet during the striking process. 

This error will increase the value of your coin. 

Broadstrike Errors

Again, this is a relatively simple error to determine. 

A broadstrike error occurs when a coin is struck without a collar. A collar keeps a coin a certain size. So, without a collar, the metal can expand, and you end up with a coin that is larger than it is supposed to be. 

Simply look at the size of your coin. If it is larger than a normal Morgan dollar, then it is likely that you have a valuable broadstrike error coin. 

Die Varieties

Below are some tips for looking for one of the 1899-O “Micro O” VAMs.

1899-O VAM-4

For the 1899-O VAM-4, look at the reverse side of your 1899-O silver dollar.²² Below the bow of the wreath, you want to look for a micro “O” mint mark.

This will be much smaller and rounder than a normal “O” mint mark. It will be positioned slightly high and to the right. It will also be tilted to the right.

The middle leaves of the wreath will be doubled.

On the obverse side of the coin, you will see both the “9s” to be “closed in,” where the end of the curve of the lower loop looks like it is connected to the top loop. The 2nd “9” also has areas of raised rough metal that look like the lower loop is partially filled in.

1899-O VAM-5

For the 1899-O VAM-5, as with the VAM-4, the bottom loop of the 2nd “9” of the date will be partly filled on the obverse side of the coin.²³ The date is also slanted, with the last “9” sitting higher than the “1.”

On the reverse side, the micro “O” mint mark will be set very high and right, and again, it will be titled to the right.

1899-O VAM-31

For this variety, again, you will see the same filled-in loop of the date’s 2nd “9” on the obverse side of your coin.²⁴ Both “9s” will appear “closed in.”

On the reverse side, the micro “O” mint mark will be tilted to the right and set high and to the right. 

The middle leaves of the wreath are slightly doubled.

The eagle’s left leg (your left) will have two horizontal die scratches. These are a unique indication of the VAM-31.

Additional Information About The 1899 Silver Dollar

History

In 1876, the U.S. Mint was on the lookout for new talent to design their coins. Their search led them to employ the British engraver George T. Morgan. 

Morgan went on to design the new silver dollar coin, and it was thus named after him.

The Morgan dollar series ran from 1878 to 1904 and for 1 year in 1921. It returned in 2021 and on as a collectible coin. 

1899 was the 3rd lowest mintage year of all Morgan silver dollars minted in Philadelphia. 

In 1899, many of the coins stored at the Philadelphia Mint and U.S. Post Office were moved to their new storage location. Upon the move, extensive damage was discovered. Over 2 million silver dollars were estimated to be damaged in storage at the previous Philadelphia Mint. 

As these coins were mainly held as security for silver certificates, there was no intention of cleaning them. Many of the Morgan dollars still bear bag marks as evidence of this.       

As has often been the case with Morgan dollars, the 1899-O silver dollar was once thought to be rare. That was until the release of thousands of bags from the U.S. Treasury hoards. 

Some 1899-O silver dollars were released in the late 1940s and early 1950s, but the majority came to light in the early 1960s. It is now quite a common coin in the series.

^{Sources: 1-8,19-20}

The Coin’s Obverse Side

Filling the majority of the obverse side of the 1899 silver dollar is the profile of Lady Liberty. In her hair are flowers, a cap, and a headband with the word “Liberty” on it. At the base of her neck is Morgan’s initial “M.”

Curving around the coin’s rim is “E Pluribus Unum” at the top and the year “1899” at the bottom. “E Pluribus Unum” is Latin for “Out of many, one,” and it is the motto of the United States of America. 

Separating the motto and the year are 13 stars, 7 on the left and 6 on the right.

^{Sources: 1-2}

The Coin’s Reverse Side

Running around the rim on the reverse side of the 1899 silver dollar is “United States of America” at the top and the coin’s denomination, “One Dollar,” at the bottom.

In the middle of the coin is a bald eagle with its wings spread. It has an olive branch and 3 arrows in its talons.

Above the eagle are the words “In God We Trust.” Below the eagle is a laurel wreath tied with a bow. On the loop of the bow is Morgan’s initial “M.”

Below the bow, if present, is the mint mark. 

An “O” is for New Orleans coins. An “S” is for San Francisco coins. Philadelphia won’t have a mint mark.

^{Sources: 1-8}

Sources

1899 Silver Dollar Value Guide Sources