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1879-S $1 MS

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Melt Value (Silver): 0.7734 oz +13.77%
$29.33
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1879-S $1  MS
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In 1879, the US Mint struck Morgan dollars with two distinct reverses, one with a flatter breast and flat feather atop the arrows (Reverse of 1878 or Second Reverse) and another with a rounder breast and a slanted feather atop the arrows (Reverse of 1879 or Third Reverse). The 1879-S Reverse of 1879 is an extremely common coin in all circulated grades and well into the Gem range, with even MS67s showing up with regular frequency. Amazingly, this piece is available in MS68 and even higher grades though is considerably rare at that level. PLs and DMPLs are reasonably common through MS66 and MS65, respectively, and then becomes much more challenging in grades above that range.

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-S with Reverse of 1879 (SAF) is one of the most plentiful of all Morgan dollars in the early (1878–1904) date range. The majority of pieces are in Mint State and have excellent eye appeal.

Surface Quality: Usually very well struck on obverse and reverse. Typically very brilliant and very lustrous, the usual piece having come from a bag in the Treasury release of 1962 through 1964.

Prooflike Coins: Prooflike coins are common, sometimes on one side only. However, many two-sided prooflikes exist, including in higher grade.

Mintage and Distribution: Relatively few 1879-S dollars were paid out at the time of striking. Most remained stored within the granite walls of the San Francisco Mint. Later, huge quantities were paid out, including in 1942, when dozens if not hundreds of bags were taken from storage. The 1962 through 1964 Treasury release yielded many more, possibly over a million. Nearly all bags and quantities reported to the author contained 1879-S dollars of the Reverse of 1879 (SAF) variety.14

VARIETIES:

Many die varieties exist, but none are dramatic enough to cause much attention.

Catalog Information

GSID: 7456
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-S
Denomination: $1
Designation: MS
Mint Location: San Francisco
Mint Mark: S
Mintage: 9,110,000
Coinage Type: Morgan silver dollar
Coinage Years: 1878-1921
Composition: 90% silver; 10% copper
PCGS #: 7092
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Coin Value History
1879-S $1 MS
Value By Grade
1879-S $1 MS
CPG (retail) values
Value by grade is available to subscribers. Subscribe to View Log In

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Melt Value (Silver): 0.7734 oz +13.77%
$29.33
GSID:7456 PCGS:7092 Shop related

Values

Greysheet & CPG® Values
Greysheet & CPG® Values by grade for 1879-S $1 MS
Grade CAC CPG Value (Retail) Greysheet Price (Wholesale)
MS68 CAC $6,500 $1,234
MS68 - $5,250 $1,234
MS67 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS67 - $1,234 $1,234
MS66 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS66 - $1,234 $1,234
MS65 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS65 - $1,234 $1,234
MS64 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS64 - $1,234 $1,234
MS63 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS63 - $1,234 $1,234
MS62 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS62 - $1,234 $1,234
MS61 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS61 - $1,234 $1,234
MS60 CAC $1,234 $1,234
MS60 - $1,234 $1,234
AU58 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU58 - $1,234 $1,234
AU55 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU55 - $1,234 $1,234
AU53 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU53 - $1,234 $1,234
AU50 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AU50 - $1,234 $1,234
XF45 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF45 - $1,234 $1,234
XF40 CAC $1,234 $1,234
XF40 - $1,234 $1,234
VF35 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF35 - $1,234 $1,234
VF30 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF30 - $1,234 $1,234
VF25 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF25 - $1,234 $1,234
VF20 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VF20 - $1,234 $1,234
F15 CAC $1,234 $1,234
F15 - $1,234 $1,234
F12 CAC $1,234 $1,234
F12 - $1,234 $1,234
VG10 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VG10 - $1,234 $1,234
VG8 CAC $1,234 $1,234
VG8 - $1,234 $1,234
G6 CAC $1,234 $1,234
G6 - $1,234 $1,234
G4 CAC $1,234 $1,234
G4 - $1,234 $1,234
AG3 CAC $1,234 $1,234
AG3 - $1,234 $1,234

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Auction Prices

Recent public sale records for this item
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1879-S $1 MS64 PCGS. CDN: $103.12 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS64. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
1879-S $1 MS64 PCGS. CDN: $103.12 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS64. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
$124
Sold 10/14/2026
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 MS65 NGC. CDN: $180 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS65. Mintage 9,110,000....
1879-S $1 MS65 NGC. CDN: $180 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS65. Mintage 9,110,000....
$183
Sold 10/14/2026
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 MS66 PCGS. CDN: $300 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS66. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
1879-S $1 MS66 PCGS. CDN: $300 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS66. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
$342
Sold 10/14/2026
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 MS63 ANACS. Housed in an ANA cache holder. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
1879-S $1 MS63 ANACS. Housed in an ANA cache holder. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
$220
Sold 9/22/2026
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 MS67+ NGC. CDN: $940 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS67. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
1879-S $1 MS67+ NGC. CDN: $940 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS MS67. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
$1,342
Sold 9/16/2026
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 MS68 PCGS. ...
1879-S $1 MS68 PCGS. ...
$4,514
Sold 1/15/2026
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 MS62 Obverse Deep Mirror Prooflike ANACS. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
1879-S $1 MS62 Obverse Deep Mirror Prooflike ANACS. Mintage 9,110,000. ...
$183
Sold 1/7/2026
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 Mint State 9.5 NGCX. Vault Box - Series 4. Mintage 9,110,000....
1879-S $1 Mint State 9.5 NGCX. Vault Box - Series 4. Mintage 9,110,000....
$139
Sold 10/29/2025
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 MS9.5 NGC. EX: VaultBox - Series 4. Mint State 9.5. NGC Census: (0/0). PCGS Population: (0/0). Mintage 9,110,000...
1879-S $1 MS9.5 NGC. EX: VaultBox - Series 4. Mint State 9.5. NGC Census: (0/0). PCGS Population: (0/0). Mintage 9,110,000...
$186
Sold 4/24/2024
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 MS61 Paramount NGC. Ex: Redfield Collection. NGC Census: (663/111066). PCGS Population: (581/116791). CDN: $64 Wh...
1879-S $1 MS61 Paramount NGC. Ex: Redfield Collection. NGC Census: (663/111066). PCGS Population: (581/116791). CDN: $64 Wh...
$240
Sold 1/31/2024
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 VAM-123 AU55 NGC. NGC Census: (78/111432). PCGS Population: (171/117015). CDN: $49 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU55. ...
1879-S $1 VAM-123 AU55 NGC. NGC Census: (78/111432). PCGS Population: (171/117015). CDN: $49 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU55. ...
$114
Sold 12/3/2023
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 VAM-45 XF40 ANACS. Mintage 9,110,000....
1879-S $1 VAM-45 XF40 ANACS. Mintage 9,110,000....
$264
Sold 12/3/2023
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 VAM-33A XF45 ANACS. Mintage 9,110,000....
1879-S $1 VAM-33A XF45 ANACS. Mintage 9,110,000....
$49
Sold 12/3/2023
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878, VAM-6, AU53 PCGS. A Top 100 Variety. PCGS Population: (4/20 and 0/0+). NGC Census: (0/0 and 0/0+...
1879-S $1 Reverse of 1878, VAM-6, AU53 PCGS. A Top 100 Variety. PCGS Population: (4/20 and 0/0+). NGC Census: (0/0 and 0/0+...
$204
Sold 12/3/2023
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 VAM-57 VF25 PCGS. PCGS Population: (9/117390). NGC Census: (10/111600). CDN: $36 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF25. Mi...
1879-S $1 VAM-57 VF25 PCGS. PCGS Population: (9/117390). NGC Census: (10/111600). CDN: $36 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS VF25. Mi...
$53
Sold 12/3/2023
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 VAM-86 AU50 PCGS. PCGS Population: (37/117253). NGC Census: (17/111542). CDN: $48 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU50. M...
1879-S $1 VAM-86 AU50 PCGS. PCGS Population: (37/117253). NGC Census: (17/111542). CDN: $48 Whsle. Bid for NGC/PCGS AU50. M...
$77
Sold 12/3/2023
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 VAM-70 AU58 ANACS. Mintage 9,110,000....
1879-S $1 VAM-70 AU58 ANACS. Mintage 9,110,000....
$59
Sold 12/3/2023
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 VAM-93 Fine 12 ANACS. Mintage 9,110,000....
1879-S $1 VAM-93 Fine 12 ANACS. Mintage 9,110,000....
$59
Sold 12/3/2023
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 GSA Soft Pack Good 6 NGC. NGC Census: (0/364). PCGS Population: (0/14). Good 6 . Mintage 9,110,000....
1879-S $1 GSA Soft Pack Good 6 NGC. NGC Census: (0/364). PCGS Population: (0/14). Good 6 . Mintage 9,110,000....
$61
Sold 11/10/2021
Heritage Auctions
1879-S $1 in Redfield Holder
1879-S $1 in Redfield Holder
$300
Sold 3/22/2021
DLRC
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