1881 Morgan Silver Dollar

 

Coin Values Moving with Precious Metals: Up-Dated 2/8/2021: Gold $1813 Silver $26.90

USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1881-O Morgan Silver Dollar is Worth $35 in Average Condition and can be Worth $61 to $1,462 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition. Click here to Learn How to use Coin Price Charts. Also, click here to Learn About Grading Coins. USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar is Worth $35 in Average Condition and can be Worth $64 to $755 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition. Proof Coins can be Worth $3,249 or more. Click here to Learn How to use Coin Price Charts. Also, click here to Learn About Grading Coins. It was finally reopened in 1879, when it began striking Morgan Silver Dollars with the ‘O’ mint mark. Minting of Morgans continued for 26 issues before ending forever in 1904. Now you can experience.


1881 Morgan silver dollar value ranges from $25.44 to $27.01 for most circulated examples.

With today's silver price theses old silver dollars are worth a nice minimum value. Also, pay particular attention to your coin's condition, top quality silver dollars are of great interest to collectors.

Without a doubt you have a valuable coin. Now let's accurately find its highest value. Starting with its condition, 1881 silver dollars that have worn surfaces are available to collectors in quantities. Scarce and highly valued are those with no wear or as collectors and dealers term 'uncirculated' condition.

Pictured is a prime collector coin. This 1881 dollar is not only uncirculated but its bright original luster is free of contact marks. Value in the market is above $53.08 .

Looking at the value chart, those in top condition and rare mintmarks stand out. Both judging condition and finding mintmarks is covered in detail below.

Next, turning to Mintmarks, these are small letters found on the coin and used to identify the different mints producing silver dollars in 1881. Of the four mints involved, Carson City struck just a fraction of the total, considered scarce they are highly collectible and valued today.

If your silver dollar was minted at the small branch mint in Carson City you have one of the rare coins of 1881. On the reverse under the knot in the ribbon the different mints placed their mintmark. Carson City used a 'CC' mark, New Orleans an 'O' and San Francisco an 'S' mintmark. If your coin lacks a mintmark it was struck at the main mint in Philadelphia.

1881 Morgan Silver Dollar Values
Condition of Coin
DateGoodFineExtremely
Fine
Uncirculated
1881 Morgan Silver Dollar Values Updated 2/8/2021
1881 $25.44 $25.44 $28.24 $53.08
1881 CC $194 $232 $261 $330
1881 O $27.01 $27.01 $29.58 $51.74
1881 S $25.44 $25.44 $28.24 $51.74

Rising Above $100 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar Value

Two different rare 1881 silver dollars are pictured, both are valued by collectors above $100 and are great examples to add to their collections. Condition and eye appeal of the top coin sets it apart from most 1881 dollars, untouched since minted its lustrous and vibrant toning with mark free surfaces showcase the classic beauty of the Morgan design.

Despite light wear the second 1881 silver dollar commands a value well above $100. Minted at Carson City few are available to collectors, scarcity raises the value. Its majestic size, popularity, and the nice original antique look is not hampered by trace amounts of circulation wear. Absent are distracting bumps or scratches typical of large coins. An acceptable amount of wear is distributed evenly across its surface.

Both 1881 dollars pictured represent coins of collector quality and solid value. Examine and judge your coin carefully, it could easily meet the desires of collectors placing your 1881 Morgan silver dollar value above the $100 mark.

Key to 1881 Silver Dollar Value is Judging Condition

Follow along with the images and descriptions as a Morgan dollar begins to wear from freshly minted 'Uncirculated' condition, to a very worn example in 'Good' condition. By judging the different stages of wear, a 'Grade' is determined. The greater the detail remaining, the greater your 1881 Morgan silver dollar value.

Uncirculated: A silver dollar in the 'uncirculated' grade never saw use in commerce. Your coin must not show any signs of wear and retain the look of brand new, often with natural toning that occurs to silver coins. Look for the first signs of abrasion from wear on the highest part of Liberty's cheek below the eye and the front of her chin. Wear to the surface removes the delicate texture of original mint luster leaving these areas dull.

Extremely Fine: Slight wear of design limited to only the tops of the highest points, defines the 'extremely fine' grade. Loss of detail is minor with the merging of just a few strands of hair found above Liberty's forehead and below her cap. Folds in the cap also show small amounts of rubbing with a tiny loss of roundness. Your coin still retains a pleasing sharpness in appearance.

Fine: Once distinct and well defined features of Liberty are now reduced by moderate wear, lowering the grade to 'fine' condition. Leaves surrounding the cotton blossoms are only outlines lacking inner detail. Many finer strands of hair have worn to the point of combining into larger flattened areas. Your silver dollar gives the impression of wear but not excessive.

Good: Noticeable, heavy wear has reduced the entire design to just a few elements. A silver dollar with extensive wear is designated as 'good' condition. Wear has removed most detail leaving Liberty as an outline in low relief. Remaining are a few and now flattened hair curls showing behind her neck and ear. In this condition your 1881 Morgan silver dollar value is tied to bullion silver price.

Coin Values CoinStudy Articles

Date by Date
In Depth Morgan Silver Dollar Value
1878 to 1921

1878

1885

1892

1899

1879

1886

1893

1900

1880

1887

1894

1901

1881

1888

1895

1902

1882

1889

1896

1903

1883

1890

1897

1904

1884

1891

1898

1921

1881 Morgan Silver Dollar Value Chart

Every collector admires these large silver coins, every collector wants one. Their popularity is immense. Worth over $24.55 each because of silver content alone. Check your coins with the grading images and value charts. Find a rare date, mintmark or a better condition coin and Morgan silver dollar values start climbing.

Check all your Silver Dollar values with the coin value chart, separating the common from the rare. From the early Bust and Seated Liberty Dollars to Morgan and Peace silver dollars. Rising silver prices, increasing demand from both collectors and rare coin dealers requires a second look at your old coins.

Coin Values Discovery finds... 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar Value and...

It is an excellent index with images and text links to all coin series, from Cents to Gold. Value charts, grading images and descriptions uncovers 1881 Morgan silver dollar value also all common to rare coin values found in your box of old coins.

Safe Coin Storage Recommendations

1881 Morgan Silver Dollar Value

Recommendations on basic supplies that greatly improve coin storage. Providing for safe handling, preserving of value and organizing your box of old coins. Old silver dollars need a certain amount of careful handling to maintain their appeal to collectors. Housing them safely is covered in the Safe Coin Storage article.

1881

The Morgan Dollar was authorized under the Bland-Allison Act, which had authorized the purchase of large amounts of silver to be minted into silver dollars. Due to the required purchase levels, production took place at a level which was much higher than circulating demand for the denomination. This led to the stockpiling of uncirculated coins at various mints and Treasury buildings, which would ultimately have a significant impact of the survivability of certain issues of the series.

From 1878 to 1881, production would take place at the Philadelphia, Carson City, New Orleans, and San Francisco Mint facilities. Typically, the highest production took place at Philadelphia, and the lowest production took place at Carson City. As mentioned, the ultimate rarity for present day collectors was also impacted by the number of coins that were held in long term storage and not released for circulation. As such, mintages alone do not account for the availability of scarcity of each date and mint mark combination.

The early years of the series saw some slight variation in design. Initially, the heraldic eagle shown on the reverse had eight tail feathers and a flat breast. This was modified to have seven tail feathers visible and one of two alternate reverse types. The first had two parallel top arrow feathers and a concave breast. The other had a slanted top arrow and convex breast.

1881 S Ms65 Morgan Dollar Value

Find additional detailed information about the 1878 to 1881 Morgan Dollars: