1879 Silver Dollar Value Guide

The 1879 Silver Dollar Value

The circulation-strike 1879 silver dollars minted in Philadelphia, New Orleans, and San Francisco have comparable prices across all grades. 

Those minted in Carson City are much more valuable. This is due to the lower number minted and the low number that survived. 

Proof-strike coins are also comparable in value except for the New Orleans version, which is far more valuable due to its rarity.

An N/A for a value below indicates no publicly known examples of that version of the 1879 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 1879 silver dollar’s melt value is approximately $18. Please note the melt value will fluctuate with the market.

Circulation Strike Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1879 Silver Dollar	1879-CC Silver Dollar	1879-O Silver Dollar	1879-S Silver Dollar	1879-S Reverse Of 1878 Silver Dollar
Good – G	$36	$241	$36	$36	$63
Very Good – VG	$38	$317	$39	$38	$75
Fine – F	$39	$412	$45	$39	$90
Very Fine – VF	$43	$793	$51	$43	$130
Extra Fine – XF	$49	$2,000	$59	$49	$183
About Uncirculated – AU	$55-$72	$3,000-$4,900	$68-$108	$55-$74	$232-$472
Mint State – MS	$87-$33,000 (67)	$5,200-$107,000 (66)	$137-$27,000 (66+)	$80-$29,000 (68+)	$575-$47,000 (66)

Circulation Strike Prooflike (PL) Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1879 Prooflike Silver Dollar	1879-CC Prooflike Silver Dollar	1879-O Prooflike Silver Dollar	1879-S Prooflike Silver Dollar	1879-S Reverse Of 1878 Prooflike Silver Dollar
AU 55 PL	N/A	N/A	$121	N/A	N/A
AU 58 PL	N/A	N/A	$138	N/A	N/A
MS 60 PL	$132	$5,800	$227	$95	$725
MS 61 PL	$160	$6,800	$317	$110	$1,000
MS 62 PL	$210	$7,800	$450	$120	$2,700
MS 63 PL	$307	$10,000	$632	$170	$3,800
MS 64 PL	$622	$15,000	$1,600	$225	$7,700
MS 65 PL	$2,300	$35,000	$10,000	$412	$14,000
MS 66 PL	$6,000	N/A	N/A	$612	N/A
MS 67 PL	N/A	N/A	N/A	$2,200	N/A
MS 68 PL	N/A	N/A	N/A	$11,000	N/A
MS 69 PL	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 70 PL	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

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

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1879 Deep (Mirror) Prooflike Silver Dollar	1879-CC Deep (Mirror) Prooflike Silver Dollar	1879-O Deep (Mirror) Prooflike Silver Dollar	1879-S Deep (Mirror) Prooflike Silver Dollar	1879-S Reverse Of 1878 Deep (Mirror) Prooflike Silver Dollar
AU 58 DPL/DMPL	N/A	N/A	$267	N/A	N/A
MS 60 DPL/DMPL	$227	$6,200	$430	$135	$1,200
MS 61 DPL/DMPL	$287	$7,300	$625	$175	$1,600
MS 62 DPL/DMPL	$487	$8,700	$925	$252	$2,000
MS 63 DPL/DMPL	$625	$13,200	$2,000	$375	$4,500
MS 64 DPL/DMPL	$2,100	$25,000	$5,000	$687	$6,400
MS 65 DPL/DMPL	$15,000	$67,000	$25,000	$1,300	$22,000
MS 66 DPL/DMPL	$29,000	N/A	N/A	$4,000	N/A
MS 67 DPL/DMPL	N/A	N/A	N/A	$10,000	N/A
MS 68 DPL/DMPL	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 69 DPL/DMPL	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 70 DPL/DMPL	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Proof Strike Value Chart

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1879 Proof Silver Dollar	1879-O Proof Silver Dollar
PR 60	$1,900	N/A
PR 61	$2,200	N/A
PR 62	$2,500	N/A
PR 63	$3,500	N/A
PR 64	$5,200	$250,000
PR 65	$6,600	$305,000
PR 66	$9,000	N/A
PR 67	$16,000	N/A
PR 68	$37,000	N/A
PR 69	N/A	N/A
PR 70	N/A	N/A

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

1879 Cameo Proof Silver Dollar
Grade Name	Coin Value
PR 60 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 61 CA/CAM	$2,600
PR 62 CA/CAM	$3,300
PR 63 CA/CAM	$4,200
PR 64 CA/CAM	$5,600
PR 65 CA/CAM	$8,700
PR 66 CA/CAM	$11,000
PR 67 CA/CAM	$18,000
PR 68 CA/CAM	$55,000
PR 69 CA/CAM	N/A
PR 70 CA/CAM	N/A

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

1879 Deep/Ultra 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	N/A
PR 66 UC/DCAM	$25,000
PR 67 UC/DCAM	$41,000
PR 68 UC/DCAM	N/A
PR 69 UC/DCAM	N/A
PR 70 UC/DCAM	N/A

What Makes An 1879 Silver Dollar Valuable?

Many factors make the 1879 silver dollar valuable, such as grading, rarity, mint marks, strike types, design variations, special designations, and whether or not the coin is an error coin, die variety, or pattern coin.

Let’s start with grading.

Grading

The higher the grade, the higher the price of an 1879 silver dollar. 

Even a Good grade for the least valuable circulation-strike 1879 version fetches $36 or more. All circulation-strike versions slightly increase in value from there.

The only exceptions are the Carson City version and proof-strike New Orleans versions, which start at and see significant increases in value (more on that in the sections below). 

It’s also possible for proof-strike coins to have a grade lower than 60. This is unusual, though, and signifies the coin was mishandled in some way. These are called impaired proofs.⁴¹

Rarity

The Mint minted 1879 silver dollars approximately 27,560,105 times across all its versions. Please see the following list for the breakdown for each version:

• 1879: 14,806,000 minted in Philadelphia^1-2
• 1879-CC: 756,000 minted in Carson City^3-4
• 1879-O: 2,887,000 minted in New Orleans^5-6
• 1879-S: 9,110,000 minted in San Francisco^7-8
• 1879-S Reverse Of 1878: part of San Francisco mintage^9-10
• 1879 Proof: 1,100 minted in Philadelphia^21-22
• 1879-O Proof: At least 5, but the true amount is unknown^23-24

While the U.S. Mint issued over 27 million of the 1879 silver dollar, not that many survived. Higher grades of this coin are rare. 

Proof strikes are the rarest version of this coin.

Mint Marks

1879 silver dollars minted in Carson City (“CC”) are the rarest and most valuable for circulation-strike versions.^3-4

The mint-state grades of the 1879-S silver dollar are very common because so many survived.^7-8 

Most New Orleans “O” coins are circulation strikes, so they tend to have lower grades.^5-6 The higher grades of this mint mark are more rare and valuable.

The proof-strike New Orleans version is the most valuable of all 1879 silver dollars. Very few are known to still exist. 

Strike Types

The 1879 silver dollar has circulation strikes and proof strikes.^28-29

The proof strikes are more valuable because the Mint made less of them and are of higher quality. The former is particularly true of the 1879 proof strikes from the New Orleans Mint. 

Cameo and deep/ultra cameo finishes also exist in 1879 silver dollar proof coins. These increase the coin’s value as well.  

The only exceptions are the higher mint-state grades for the Carson City and 1879-S reverse of 1878 silver dollar coins (more on this in the “Die Varieties” section below).

Design Variations

The 1879 silver dollar has one design variation, which is the 1879-S Reverse of 1878 silver dollar.^9-10 

Normal 1879-S silver dollars feature a reverse side consistent with other 1879 coins. 

However, the San Francisco Mint minted a small number of 1879-S coins with a reverse side consistent with 1878 coins. Hence the name, 1879-S Reverse Of 1878 silver dollar.

There are far fewer 1879-S Reverse Of 1878 silver dollars, making them a more valuable coin than their counterparts.

Special Designations

The 1879 silver dollar has 2 special designations: prooflike and deep (mirror) prooflike.^{2,4,6,8,10-20}

Both increase the value of the coin.

Error Coins 

Error coins tend to be more valuable because they are one-off coins. 

Some errors found in 1879 silver dollars are the following:

• Off-center strikes from the Philadelphia Mint³⁰
• Uncentered broadstrike from the San Francisco Mint⁴⁹

Even if the coin is of a lower grade, these errors tend to increase its value.

Die Varieties

The 1879 silver dollar has many die varieties. These are VAMs, which are particular to Morgan dollars and peace dollars.

We’ve listed the most notable ones below.

The 1879-CC Capped Die VAM-3 (AKA 1879-CC “CC Over CC”)

Some 1879 silver dollars minted in Carson City show small marks around the mint mark.³¹ This die variety is called the 1879-CC “Capped Die” silver dollar or the 1879-CC “CC Over CC” silver dollar. It’s a VAM-3.

This is not to be confused with a “die cap,” a coin that has been repeatedly struck and resembles a bottle cap. 

The marks around the “CC” mint mark were first thought to be die rust marks. However, further investigation by Leroy Van Allen in the 1960s showed it to be an “overmintmark.” This means the “CC” has been punched twice. First, with a smaller “CC” from the 1878 series, then with the new larger 1879 “CC” over the top. 

The larger “CC” was struck slightly lower, and the tops of the smaller “CC” can be seen just above the second larger mint mark, giving the look of the “CC” wearing caps. 

These coins are very valuable.

The 1879-O Silver Dollar

The New Orleans Mint used the following different sizes of the “O” mint mark:^32-33 

• The medium “O”
• The large “O”
• The double-punched “O”

The double-punched “O” is of particular interest to collectors.

These coins are worth a premium since so few have been discovered.

Pattern Coins

The Mint sometimes makes pattern coins.^34-40 The purpose is to test out different designs for a coin. 

In other words, they are test coins, typically made with metals different from the final circulation coins. They’re referred to as off-metal strikes.

Pattern coins can be very valuable and sought after because the Mint only made a small number. Also, pattern coins show a coin’s development, making them desirable to collectors.

The 1879 silver dollar has several pattern coins.

Let’s start with the “Schoolgirl.”

The “Schoolgirl” Dollar

This is possibly the most famous of the 1879 silver dollar pattern coins. 

The Mint struck it in both silver and copper.

The design depicts Lady Liberty as a young girl. She wears a headband pushed back with “Liberty” written across it. Her hair is tied back in a low ponytail with a ribbon. She also wears a single string of pearls. 

The reverse side shows a very different eagle from the one used in the circulation strike. 

The eagle has its wings raised above its head. It stands on a scroll that reads, “In God We Trust.” The olive branch and arrows are on either side of the scroll. “The United States of America” and “One Dollar” are arranged around the rim, similar to the circulation strike. 

Many say the “schoolgirl” dollar is one of the most beautiful Morgan coins ever made. Museums hold several of these pattern coins. 

The “Washlady” Dollar

William Barber, not George T. Morgan, designed this coin. 

Its name comes from Lady Liberty’s messy hair. Liberty’s hair is loosely falling from a high ponytail, giving her an unkempt look. She wears a headband with “Liberty” written on it.

The eagle’s wings are arched, and the arrows and olive branch are behind its wings.  

Different Eagle

Several 1879 pattern dollars depict an eagle on the reverse side with its wings in a formation different from the circulation strike. The wings are arched rather than spread. Lady Liberty on the obverse side is the same as the circulation-strike coins.

These are less famous and less popular than the “schoolgirl” dollar but are still valuable.

Composition

The 1879 silver dollar is 90% silver. 

The coin is worth its weight in silver, although this fluctuates with the market prices. 

However, we strongly recommend not to melt your coin as it is more valuable when sold intact. 

How Do You Know If You Have A Valuable 1879 Silver Dollar?

The best way to know if you have a valuable 1879 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 need to look at the overall quality of your 1879 silver dollar.^41-42 For example:

• Are the details clear or worn away?
• Are there chips, cracks, or blemishes?
• Is it lustrous (shiny) or faded?
• Is the strike quality good?
• Does it have eye appeal?

You can get a good idea of the quality by looking at the coin. However, you might also need magnification to see finer details. A loupe is helpful for this. 

Mint Marks

You can find the mint mark on an 1879 silver dollar below the bow of the laurel wreath on the reverse side of the coin.

The 1879 silver dollar has three mint marks: 

• “CC” for Carson City
• “O” for New Orleans
• “S” for San Francisco

1879 silver dollars without mint marks are from Philadelphia.

Strike Types

The 1879 silver dollar strike quality is usually excellent.^1-8 

Because the Mint spends more time and care making proof strikes, they hold a better overall quality. A key indicator of a proof strike is the mirror-like quality. You’re unlikely to find this in circulation strikes. You will also find far fewer scratches on a proof strike. 

Cameo proof coins show a distinct contrast between a polished background and the frosting of the design elements. 

A deep/ultra cameo shows even greater contrast. 

Design Variations

The “Reverse Of 1878” coins feature an eagle with a flatter, almost sunken chest and straight arrow feathers.^9-10 

The normal 1879 silver dollars feature an eagle with a rounded chest and an angled top arrow feather. 

Special Designations

The easiest way to determine if your 1879 silver dollar has the prooflike or deep (mirror) prooflike special designation is to look for a reflective finish on your coin. 

However, as with any coin, we recommend getting a professional to certify this verification.

Error Coins

Sometimes, it’s difficult to see errors. A loupe may be helpful when looking for errors on your 1879 silver dollar. 

To help, here are some things to look for:

• A coin design that’s not centered or that is pushed off to the side (off-center strike)
• A coin that’s larger than usual (broadstrike error)

Generally, look for anything unusual, which means your coin has a good chance of being an error coin or a die variety.

Die Varieties

The 1879 silver dollar has many die varieties, so it’s imperative to identify the one you have. 

Let’s start with the 1879-CC capped die variety.

The 1879-CC Capped Die (AKA 1879-CC “CC Over CC”)

Look for marks above the “CC” mint marks of your Carson City dollar.³¹ Some form of magnification will be useful here. If you see 2 lines or rusting above the “CC,” this might indicate that you have an 1879-CC “Capped Die” silver dollar. These are very valuable coins.

The 1879-O Silver Dollar

Look at the mint mark or the 1879-O silver dollar die variety.^32-33 Does it have evidence of horizontal lines in the center of the “O”? This could indicate a double-punched “O” where you are seeing a vertical “O” over the top of a horizontal “O.”  

The Mint struck the first mint mark horizontally and punched a second one over the top to correct the mistake. You can see lines from the original horizontal mint mark through the center of the second vertical “O.” 

Some believe this coin was punched 3 times, with the final vertical “O” being punched over two previous mint marks that were either too high or too low. Opinions vary on this matter. 

Pattern Coins

The most obvious indications that you have an 1879 dollar pattern coin are:

• Lady Liberty appears differently (such as a young girl) on the obverse side
• It’s made from copper or another metal
• The eagle on the reverse side is depicted in a different position

We always recommend you have a professional certify your coin. 

Additional Information About The 1879 Silver Dollar

History

1879 marks the 2nd year of the Morgan dollar. The Mint minted Morgan silver dollars from 1878-1904, for 1 year in 1921, and again starting in 2021. 

This series was brought about by the Bland-Allison Act, which ordered the U.S. Treasury to purchase vast quantities of silver for making dollar coins. 

The Mint Director, Henry P. Linderman, chose the designs of George T. Morgan, a British engraver, for the new silver dollar. Thus, these coins came to be known as Morgan dollars. 

Many criticized the eagle on the 1878 silver dollars, which led to the Mint altering the eagle’s chest to be more rounded.     

1879 also saw the reopening of the New Orleans Mint. It closed in 1861 at the start of the Civil War. It reopened to help with the high production of the new silver dollars.

The Mint struck 1879-O proof coins to commemorate its reopening. The exact amount struck is unknown, but it is estimated to be as little as 12. This is why the 1879-O proofs reach such a high premium.

^{Sources: 5-6,23,24,28-29,46,48} 

The Coin’s Obverse Side

The profile of Lady Liberty fills the majority of the obverse side of the 1879 silver dollar. 

An “M” (Morgan’s initial) is between the bottom of her neck and her hair. “E Pluribus Unum” curves around the rim above Liberty’s head. This is America’s motto, meaning “Out of many, one.” Dots separate each word. 

At the bottom of the coin is the year “1879”. 7 stars curve up the rim from the left of “1879” to “E Pluribus Unum.” 

6 stars curve up the rim from the right of “1879.” 

^{Sources: 1-2}

The Coin’s Reverse Side

An eagle with wings spread sits in the center of the reverse side of the 1879 silver dollar. It holds an olive branch and 3 arrows in its talons. 

“United States Of America” curves the rim at the top of the coin. “One Dollar” is at the bottom of the rim. A star separates “United States Of America” and “One Dollar” on each side. 

Above the eagle is “In God We Trust.” A laurel wreath tied with a bow is featured below the eagle. Again, Morgan’s initial “M” can be found sideways on the loop of the bow.

Coins minted in different locations include a mint mark below the bow of the laurel wreath and above the “D” and “O” of “Dollar.” 

Those minted in Carson City have “CC.” 

New Orleans has an “O.” 

San Francisco has an “S.” 

Philadelphia does not have a mint mark.

^{Sources: 1-8}

Sources

1879 Silver Dollar Value Guide Sources