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A common coin that is widely available through mid-range Gem levels, the 1879-S Morgan dollar is frequently encountered in most of the active grade points, though is challenging in MS67 or better. PLs and DMPLs are significantly scarcer than regular MS examples. The strike on this coin is typically strong, and many specimens exhibit blast-white surfaces.
Obverse Description
Portrait of Liberty centered. On the left are found 7 stars with the words E*PLURIBUS*UNUM followed by 6 stars on the right. The date is positioned at the bottom.
Reverse Description
The heraldic eagle is centered holding a bunch of arrows and branch surrounded by and olive leaves. The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA * ONE DOLLAR frame the periphery. Mint mark, if any, appears above the letters DO of DOLLAR.
Book Reference
Key to Collecting: The 1879 dollar is very plentiful in all grades, as you might expect from the mintage figure. Mint State coins abound, but the quality of strike and luster can vary widely.
Surface Quality: Most examples are fairly well struck. Many have lightness of center details particularly noticeable above the ear of Liberty, this being typical for nearly all of the series from this point forward. The extra metal needed to flow into the rounded breast of the eagle on the Reverse of 1879 dies took away from metal available to fill the high points on the obverse, resulting in some loss of detail. Usually seen lustrous, sometimes grainy if a particular die has been used for a long period of time.
Prooflike Coins: Prooflike coins exist, including some with high contrast. Many are onesided prooflikes. Prooflike coins are scarce in comparison to frosty, lustrous examples.
Mintage and Distribution: Although dollars of this date have been plentiful from day one, indicating release near the time of coinage, many bags remained in storage. In Mint State supplies were plentiful in the 1950’s and 1960’s, often trading in quantity. However, few remained by the time of the Treasury releases of 1962 through 1964.
PROOF STRIKES:
Mintage: Mint record, 1,100. Breen comment: “250 coined in first quarter, 500 in second, total 750; of these 100 were melted in January 1880, leaving 650 net mintage.”9 I find the 650 figure to be unlikely in view that in proportion to the survival of other dates, there are too many certified coins; 1,100 or close to it seems to be more correct.
Key to Collecting: Most are of low contrast. Striking quality is average. Although the mintage is high, the challenge for quality is high as well.
VARIETIES:
Made for the coinage were 129 obverse dies and 86 reverse dies, although it is not known if all were used. In any event, reverse dies could be held over for use in a future year. There are many minor die variations, but none significant.
Catalog Information
GSID:
7428
Designer:
George T. Morgan
Obverse Designer:
George T. Morgan
Obverse Lettering:
E PLURIBUS UNUM, LIBERTY, 1879
Reverse Designer:
George T. Morgan
Reverse Lettering:
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN GOD WE TRUST, ONE DOLLAR
Fineness:
0.9
Weight (gr):
26.73 gr
Weight (oz):
0.8594 oz
Precious Metal Weight:
0.7734 oz
Strike Type:
Business
Diameter:
38.1
Coin Shape:
Round
Edge:
Reeded
Coin Date:
1879
Denomination:
$1
Designation:
MS
Mint Location:
Philadelphia
Mintage:
14,806,000
Coinage Type:
Morgan silver dollar
Coinage Years:
1878-1921
Composition:
90% silver; 10% copper
PCGS #:
7084
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Coin Value History
1879 $1 MS
Value By Grade
1879 $1 MS
CPG (retail) values
Currency
Grade Range
Grading Authority
Sort by
Pricing
Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values
| Grade | CAC | CPG Value (Retail) | Greysheet Price (Wholesale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS67 |
|
$38,500 | $1,234 |
| MS67 | - | $27,000 | $1,234 |
| MS66 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS66 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS65 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS64 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS63 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS62 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS61 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| MS60 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU58 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU55 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU53 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AU50 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF45 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| XF40 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF35 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF30 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF25 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VF20 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F15 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| F12 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG10 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| VG8 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G6 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| G4 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 |
|
$1,234 | $1,234 |
| AG3 | - | $1,234 | $1,234 |
Morgan $1 Pre-1921 MS [Type]
![Morgan $1 Pre-1921 MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ProductImages/DLRC/194xxx/a15b3867-56c4-4feb-9ccd-68ae7da30226.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $41 – $80,000
Morgan $1 Pre-1921 MS PL [Type]
![Morgan $1 Pre-1921 MS PL [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ctc/catalog/90o-pl-obv.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $50 – $7,800
Morgan $1 Pre-1921 MS DMPL [Type]
![Morgan $1 Pre-1921 MS DMPL [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ctc/catalog/84cc-dmpl-obv.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $75 – $42,000
Morgan $1 Carson City Mint MS [Type]
![Morgan $1 Carson City Mint MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/ProductImages/DLRC/416xxx/e90065e0-537f-4db8-b2b8-efacd6817cff.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $70 – $50,000
Morgan $1 Carson City Mint, GSA Hoard Hard package MS [Type]
![Morgan $1 Carson City Mint, GSA Hoard Hard package MS [Type]](https://images.greysheet.com/Ctc/CatalogEntry/ha_com_1314_4280-3.20200626010427369.jpg?MaxWidth=200&Mode=Pad&Scale=UpscaleCanvas&format=webp)
Worth: $270 – $5,400
1878 8TF $1 MS
Worth: $40 – $102,000
1878 8TF $1 MS PL
Worth: $200 – $4,400
1878 8TF $1 MS DMPL
Worth: $575 – $27,000
1878 7TF $1 Reverse of 1878 MS
Worth: $41 – $3,200
1878 7TF $1 Reverse of 1878 MS PL
Worth: $72 – $6,600
1878 7TF $1 Reverse of 1878 MS DMPL
Worth: $240 – $42,000
1878 7/8TF $1 Strong MS
Worth: $45 – $26,400
1878 7/8TF $1 Strong MS PL
Worth: $200 – $9,900
1878 7/8TF $1 Strong MS DMPL
Worth: $425 – $30,000
1878 7/8TF $1 Weak MS
Worth: $41 – $3,200
1879 $1 MS66 NGC. CDN: $1,200 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS66. Mintage 14,807,100. ...
$1,342
1879 $1 MS63 NGC. CDN: $119.50 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS63. Mintage 14,807,100. ...
$139
1879 $1 MS62 NGC. CDN: $75 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS62. Mintage 14,807,100....
$366
1879 $1 MS64 NGC. CDN: $150 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS64. Mintage 14,807,100. ...
$268
1879 $1 MS65 NGC. CDN: $450 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS65. Mintage 14,807,100. ...
$464
1879 $1 MS61 PCGS. Housed in a Generation 1.2 "rattler" holder. CDN: $72 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS61. Mintage 14,807,100....
$114
1879 $1 MS60 NGC. Mintage 14,807,100. ...
$74
1879 $1 MS67 PCGS....
$28,800
1879 $1 AU58 PCGS. PCGS Population: (562/15772). NGC Census: (494/13884). CDN: $53 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU58. Mintage 14...
$91
1879 $1 VAM-86 -- Cleaned -- ANACS Details. XF45. Mintage 14,807,100....
$41
1879 $1 VAM-101A AU50 ANACS. Mintage 14,807,100....
$53
1879 $1 VAM-92A AU55 ANACS. Mintage 14,807,100....
$53
1879 $1 VAM-92 AU53 ANACS. Mintage 14,807,100....
$49
1879 $1 VAM-40 XF40 PCGS. PCGS Population: (91/17055). NGC Census: (58/14898). CDN: $37 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS XF40. Minta...
$79
1879 $1 VAM-7 -- Cleaned -- ANACS Details. VF35....
$30
Lot of (4) Silver Dollars $1: All NGC Brilliant Uncirculated
$145
1879 $1 -- Graffiti -- ANACS. Fine 12 Details; 1921 Morgan -- Struck Thru Debris, Cleaned -- ANACS. AU55 Details; 1921 Morgan... (Total: 6 coins)
$212
1879 $1 MS66+ PCGS. VAM-26. The date is doubled with the 7 showing a dash below the shaft, along with two short horizontal ...
$3,000
1879 $1 MS63 NGC. CDN: $119.50 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS63. Mintage 14,807,100. ...
$129
1879 $1 MS62 PCGS. CDN: $75 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS62. Mintage 14,807,100. ...
$79
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8/8/2024
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7/25/2024
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