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• 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar

History of the 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar The year 1881 saw the fourth mintage of the Morgan silver dollar. The 1881 Morgan silver dollar is unique among many U.S. Coins in that it was minted in four separate locations: Philadelphia, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Carson City. The Philadelphia mint reports producing 9,163,975 in 1881. The Birth of America's beautiful Morgan Dollar – Minted from 1878-1904, and once again in 1921, the Morgan silver dollar is one of America's most popular collectible coins. To fully understand the history of these 90% silver beauties, we first have to go back to the era of our nation's great gold and silver rushes – particularly 1859 and the great Comstock Lode!

Coin Info

The 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar was the first year for which there are relatively few die varieties. Those who closely follow the major VAM (Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis) varieties may disagree that 1881 was a relatively quiet year for Morgan Silver Dollars, but for most collectors, that year represents few challenges for many who are assembling a date-and-mintmark run of the series.

The 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar was produced in four mints: Carson City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. The most valuable 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar carries the 'CC' mintmark used by the Carson City Mint. It always carries a premium value because of very low production, making it the rarest 1881 Morgan Dollar. The New Orleans Mint used an 'O' and the San Francisco Mint an 'S”. The main mint in Philadelphia did not use a mintmark. Proof examples of Morgan Dollars from all years, including 1881, are rare which makes them expensive.

1881 Morgan Silver Dollar Mintage Figures

• 1881: 9,163,000; $35+
• 1881-CC: 296,000; $500+
• 1881-O: 5,708,000; $35+
• 1881-S: 12,760,000; $35+
• 1881 Proof: 984; $3,250+

The 1881-CC Morgan Silver Dollars have a much lower mintage than their branch mint counterparts. This is a good time to remind all Morgan Silver Dollar collectors, be they novices or seasoned enthusiasts, that all Carson City Mint Morgan Silver Dollars are quite scarce and are, collectively, among the most valuable and sought-after coins in the entire series. Morgan Silver Dollar value and much of the popularity of CC-mint silver dollars came to be in the 1970s, when the General Services Administration (GSA) sold off a large hoard of Carson City silver dollars. Today, Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars are generally divided into two categories: raw CC Morgan Silver Dollars and GSA Morgan Silver Dollars. The latter are those that are still in their 1970s GSA plastic holders, and usually command a premium above the prices listed in this article.

CoinTrackers.com has estimated the 1881 S Morgan Silver Dollar value at an average of $30, one in certified mint state (MS+) could be worth $150. (see details)...

Type:Morgan Silver Dollar
Year:1881
Mint Mark: S
Face Value: 1.00 USD
Total Produced: 12,760,000 [?]
Silver Content: 90%
Silver Weight: 0.7735 oz.
Silver Melt: $21.05
Value: As a rough estimate of this coins value you can assume this coin in average condition will be valued at somewhere around $30, while one in certified mint state (MS+) condition could bring as much as $150 at auction. This price does not reference any standard coin grading scale. So when we say average, we mean in a similar condition to other coins issued in 1881, and mint state meaning it is certified MS+ by one of the top coin grading companies. [?].

Additional Info: These are the least valuable of the 1881 Morgans. Others with CC, O, and no mint mark are worth substantially more. Price listed is an average of most recently sold MS-65 versions.

Numismatic vs Intrinsic Value:This coin in poor condition is still worth $8.95 more than the intrinsic value from silver content of $21.05, this coin is thus more valuable to a collector than to a silver bug. Coins worth more to a collectors may be a better long term investment. If the metal prices drop you will still have a coin that a numismatic would want to buy.

Want more info? Then read Coin Collecting Investment an article that details the benifits of coin collecting as a way to build wealth. Also learn how to properly store your coins.

Current silver melt value* for a 1881 S is $21.05 and this price is based off the current silver spot price of $27.22 This value is dynamic so bookmark it and comeback for an up to the minute silver melt value.

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• *list does not count the newer Presidential Dollars

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**When we say that 12,760,000, of these coins were produced or minted in 1881 this number doesn't always match the actual circulation count for this coin. The numbers come from the United States mint, and they don't reflect coins that have been melted, destroyed, or those that have never been released. Please keep that in mind.

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***Price subject to standard supply and demand laws, dealer premiums, and other market variations. Prices represent past values fetched at online auctions, estate sales, certified coins being sold by dealers, and user submitted values. While we wholeheartedly try to give honest price estimates there are many factors besides appearance, metal content, and rarity that help make up the coins overall value.Call or visit your local coin dealer for more information.

1881 S Silver Dollar Worth

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1881 Silver Dollar Value Morgan Silver Dollar

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