Silver dollar coin value chart: how Morgan dollar values are read
Every Morgan dollar value chart is really two numbers multiplied: the date-and-mint-mark rarity, and the condition. The floor under all of it is the silver itself:
| Coin | Years | Pure silver per coin | Silver value right now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan dollar | 1878 to 1904, 1921 | 0.7734 troy oz | $49.73 |
| Peace dollar | 1921 to 1935 | 0.7734 troy oz | $49.73 |
Common circulated dates trade near that melt figure plus a premium, because big classic silver dollars always carry demand. The chart climbs steeply from there: Carson City (CC) coins, the 1889-CC, the 1893-S, the 1895 Philadelphia proof-only issue, and the 1928 and 1934-S Peace dollars lead their series. Condition then multiplies the rarity, which is why grading matters so much on better dates.
Where is the mint mark location on a Morgan silver dollar?
Turn the coin to the eagle side. On a Morgan, the mint mark location is on the reverse under the wreath bow, just above the letters DO in DOLLAR: no letter means Philadelphia, and CC (Carson City), S (San Francisco), O (New Orleans) or D (Denver, 1921 only) mark the branch mints. On a Peace dollar the mark sits on the reverse at the lower left, below ONE. CC is the letter pair that most changes the money, so check it first.
How much does a Morgan silver dollar weigh? Size and dimensions of the coin
A Morgan or Peace dollar weighs 26.73 grams when struck, with dimensions of 38.1 millimeters across, the largest silver coin the United States ever circulated. Honest wear takes a little of that weight; a coin far off the mark, or the wrong size entirely, is the first sign of a counterfeit, and fakes of both series are common. We verify weight, dimensions and, when needed, XRF composition in front of you, free.
Is a gold plated Morgan dollar worth more?
No. Gold plating is an aftermarket novelty treatment, the layer of gold is microscopically thin, and to collectors the coin now counts as altered, which removes the collector premium rather than adding one. A gold plated Morgan dollar is still 90 percent silver underneath, so it sells at its silver value, and we buy them on that basis every week.
Collecting Morgan dollars, or selling them?
Collecting Morgan dollars usually starts the same way selling them does: with an inherited roll or a coffee can. If you want to keep the set, we will still identify the dates worth pulling into holders. If you want to sell, the counter checks every coin's date and mint mark first, prices collector pieces on their own merit, and prices the rest from the same live silver feed this page shows, with same-day cash at all 8 stores.
How do you calculate a Morgan silver dollar's melt value from grams?
Multiply 26.73 grams by 0.900 purity to get 24.06 grams of pure silver, divide by 31.1035 grams per troy ounce to get 0.7734 troy ounces, then multiply by the live silver price: one Morgan dollar holds $49.73 of silver right now. That figure is the floor; date, mint mark and condition decide how far above it a coin sells.
What is a 1921 Morgan silver dollar worth?
A circulated 1921 Morgan usually trades close to that silver floor plus a modest premium, because it is the most common Morgan of all: about 86.7 million were struck at Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco to replace the roughly 270 million older silver dollars melted under the Pittman Act of 1918. The 1921-D is the only Morgan ever struck in Denver, and uncirculated or high-grade 1921s are priced on grade rather than silver.
How do silver dollars usually reach a coin buyer's counter?
Often as family coins, not as a collector's inventory. Several of the coin sellers who describe their visit in Cash 4 Gold Trading Post's public Google reviews are handling a relative's coins, and what they remember is each coin being explained before any number was agreed. One East Brunswick review, word for word:
“We stopped by today to sell some of my grandfather's silver coins and some jewelry. Chris was incredibly helpful and not only evaluated the price of the coins but explained each one so my mother and I could understand. I highly recommend going here if you're looking for someone you can trust to give you the best price.” Robert R., Google review of our East Brunswick store
That is why the counter sorts a family lot date by date before quoting: a bag of inherited Morgans is usually mostly common dates at the silver floor above, with the occasional CC or better date that deserves its own price.
One dollar or a canvas bag of them: dates and mint marks checked in front of you, collector value first, live silver pricing on the rest.
Find your nearest of our 8 storesMorgan and Peace dollar FAQs
What years were Morgan silver dollars made?
1878 through 1904, then one final circulation year in 1921. The modern US Mint has also struck 2021-and-later Morgan tribute coins in .999 silver; those are collector products, priced differently from the classic 90 percent coins.
Is a Peace dollar worth as much as a Morgan?
They carry identical silver, 0.7734 troy ounces, so their floors match. Collector premiums usually favor Morgans date for date, but key Peace dollars like the 1921 high relief and 1928 are strong coins in their own right. Every date gets its own check.
How can I tell if my Morgan dollar is real?
Weight and size settle most cases: 26.73 grams and 38.1 millimeters, with a reeded edge. Fakes are usually light, slightly small, or wrong in ring and detail. We verify authenticity free, in front of you, before talking numbers.
Do you buy worn or cull silver dollars?
Yes. Heavily worn, cleaned or damaged Morgans and Peace dollars still hold their full silver content, so they sell at live melt-based pricing. Anything with a better date or mint mark gets pulled out and priced above the pile first.