1885 Silver Dollar Value: are S, O, “CC”, No mint mark worth money?

In 1885, the San Francisco Mint created a little less than 1.5 million silver dollars. That makes it the series’ second lowest mintage for that year, just after Carson City. Because of that, “S” 1885 silver dollars are also quite valuable. Back in the 1800s, the mintage for coins was always way lower than they are today because silver was limited in the country’s reserves. However, the Carson City production of the 1885 Morgan silver dollars was insanely low even for its time. Not many of these coins have survived; therefore, those in pristine condition are very rare, hence the price.

Circulation Strike Prooflike (PL) Value Chart

While not always the case, most error coins tend to increase the coin’s value. Error coins, or mint errors, result it outstaffing service from a mistake made in the minting of the coin. The error can happen during the striking process or even before, with die or planchet errors. The U.S. Mint minted over 28 million dollar coins in Philadelphia, Carson City, New Orleans, and San Francisco.

Morgan silver dollars were not needed for circulation; they were mainly struck as a subsidy to support the silver industry. As such, large quantities of these coins sat in bags at the Treasury vaults, most released in the 1960s. Preserve your 1885 Morgan silver dollar value, by careful handling and storage.

What mint marks are on 1885 silver dollars?

  • Coins in the highest circulated grades can go up to almost $65.
  • The coin has luster, but there may be a few stains, abrasions, or surface marks.
  • As you already know, the 1885 silver dollar is also called the Morgan dollar, after its designer and United States Mint Assistant Engraver, George T. Morgan.
  • The Carson City Mint closed in November 1885 and did not reopen for another 4 years.
  • His commitment to helping collectors and individuals navigate the world of finance has made Coins-Value a trusted resource in the industry.
  • So, it’s quite easy to collect these coins even in higher gem grades.

Considering that San Francisco and New Orleans depended on the production of silver, the Mint facilities in these cities were shut down. As you already know, the 1885 silver dollar is also called the Morgan dollar, after its designer and United States Mint Assistant Engraver, George T. Morgan. On the other hand, selling them can be a very lucrative and adventure-infused business venture. Regardless of your motivation, if you are interested in the value of the 1885 silver dollar, you have come to the right place.

Because of their large size, silver dollars can receive and inflict nicks and scuffs. For your top condition and value coins, a range of appropriate holders are found at an area coin dealer. The cardboard and mylar “flips” the dealer uses in the display cases are suitable for many of your coins. Easy to use and inexpensive they are a good solution to safe storage and preserving value.

The 1885 silver dollar with no mint mark is worth around $48 in very fine condition. In uncirculated condition the price is around $70 for coins with an MS 60 grade. Uncirculated coins with a grade of MS 65 can sell for around $225.

And on the reverse, we see an eagle with its wings spread, sitting on some branches. But one of Morgan’s biggest achievements—by which people remember him most—is the Morgan silver dollar, which ran from 1878 to 1921. One of the most interesting issues of the iconic Morgan silver dollar is the 1885 run. Just in case you are unsure what it means if a coin is considered in MS 67, the coin with this grade has the original luster and a normal strike for date and mint. Examples in mint states will fetch more, with one graded MS65 bringing as much as $1,450, while an MS68 specimen is worth up to $80,000. If you are still unsure about the price of your coins, you can appraise the only investment guide you’ll ever need and sell your coins for free through our verified platform.

Plenty of 1885 S silver dollars were put into circulation right away. So, their value in circulated condition doesn’t differ much from coins minted in Philly or New Orleans. In 1885, the Philadelphia Mint produced over 17.7 million Morgan dollars.

In 2011, Goldenberg Auctioneers sold what is believed to be the most lexatrade expensive 1885 proof silver dollar. This specimen was graded PF69 and was auctioned for an astonishing $92,000. Lady Liberty’s left-facing portrait wearing a Phrygian cap features prominently on the obverse of the 1885 silver dollar. You might be glad to discover that the 1885 silver dollar is worth more than face value.

In an average circulated condition, the 1885 CC Morgan silver dollar is worth from $450 to $500, but it is not surprising to see it go for a higher amount. Those in good or excellent condition can cost from $600 to $8,500. Die state and strike quality are important factors, especially for New Orleans mint coins. Well-struck examples with full breast feathers on the eagle and sharp hair details on Liberty can command premiums. Bag marks and other surface imperfections can significantly reduce value, particularly in higher grades. Because of their popularity, Morgan silver dollars are prone to countgerfeiting.

You might also want to look at the scrawny eagle’s breast, which is very detailed. Those available in the $21,000-$26,000 range are very uncommon and of excellent quality. The highest-graded example was an MS 68 that fetched $37,600 during Heritage Auctions in 2015. Then read Coin Collecting Investment an article that details the benefits of coin collecting as a way to build wealth. So, as far as total mintage-wise, New Orleans comes in third place with the lowest mintage in Carson City. The second lowest mintage was from San Francisco, and the highest mintage of 1885 was out of Philadelphia.

Morgan Silver Dollars for Sale

At the suggestion of his friend, Morgan used Anna Willess Williams, a teacher of Philosophy, as the model on the coin’s obverse. In 1885, the New Orleans Mint minted no other coin but the Morgan silver dollar. Due to its rarity, even the lowest “good” grade of the 1885-CC silver dollar is worth $580. The higher mint-state grades of the 1885 silver dollar reach the tens of thousands. However this is just a minimum value representing how much a circulated-worn 1885 dollar is worth. The market for 1885-S Morgan dollars was sensitive to changes in supply through the 1960s.

& 70s Penny Values

At the time of sale, the coins came with a title card in a plastic holder, a black box, and a certificate of authenticity. The GSA released these coins from Treasury vaults and sold them to the public in the 1970s and at the start of the 1980s. General Services Administration (GSA) of approximately 3 million Morgan dollars. 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.

The most valuable and rarest 1885 Morgan silver dollar is struck in Carson City (CC) because of the low mintage-228,000. The 1885 No mint Morgan silver dollar in MS 67 can cost between $1,200 to $1,550, while the price of these coins in MS66 ranges between $315 and $385. Ultimately, the 1885 silver dollar with no mint mark in MS 65 costs from $180 to $220. The condition of an 1885 Morgan Dollar significantly impacts its value.

The 1885-S Morgan dollar had a mintage just under a million and a half coins. The San Francisco Mint dribbled out bags of 1885-S Morgans into circulation in the regular course of business until the 1940s. As a result, the issue saw little attention from collectors until the 1950s. One way to assess your 1885 silver dollar’s coin grading is to check on the highest points of the coin for wear and smoothness. The “extremely fine” quality is defined by minor design wear confined to the highest points.

  • 1885 S Morgan silver dollar in an MS 67 grade is worth between $45,000 -$54,000, while in an MS 66, the price can range from $4,000 to $4,500.
  • But Congress rejected this proposal and omitted silver coins from the authorized legal tender list, leading to a massive protest.
  • Proof coins with no mint mark are available and they are each valued at around $3,750 in PR 63 condition.
  • In circulated condition, expect between $37 and $325 for your 1885-S Morgan silver dollar, depending on the grade.
  • Depending on the opinion, these coins’ mintage is considered medium or low, mainly due to the limited amount of silver in the reserves at the time.
  • Ultimately, the 1885 silver dollar with no mint mark in MS 65 costs from $180 to $220.

S Morgan Dollar MS-62 NGC

Always double-check the credibility of any site, their sellers, and coins for sale. Many sites do a thorough job ensuring the authenticity of their coins, but not all do. Be wary of any prices that look unusual or too good to be true.

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