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1880 Morgan Silver Dollar Error List & Value

1880 Morgan Silver Dollar Value

If you think that all coins from the 1800s must be severely damaged or worn down, there are several 1880 silver dollars available to prove you wrong. These coins are always at least worth their melt value, but most are collectible enough to command a small premium on that price.

At a higher grade, an 1880 silver dollar sells for between $26.19 and $584. This wide range is the result of the scarcity of certain mintages from this year. Proof coins regularly sell for at least $1,375, and errors or particularly high grades can increase any of these values.

Keep reading as we explore the different 1880 Morgan silver dollar varieties and values and how details such as grade or mint errors play into these numbers.

1880 Morgan Silver Dollar Value Chart

Mint Mark Good Fine Extremely Fine Uncirculated Proof
1880 No Mint Mark Morgan Silver Dollar Value $22.52 $23.90 $26.19 $26.19 /
1880 S Morgan Silver Dollar Value $22.52 $22.52 $25.00 $45.79 /
1880 O Morgan Silver Dollar Value $23.90 $25.00 $27.57 $79.52 /
1880 CC Morgan Silver Dollar Value $122.00 $175.00 $267.00 $584.00 /
1880 Proof Morgan Silver Dollar Value / / / / $1,375+

1880 No Mint Mark Morgan Silver Dollar Value

1880 No Mint Mark Morgan Silver Dollar Value
Credit: usacoinbook

The 1880 no mint mark Morgan silver dollars came from the Philadelphia Mint. Philadelphia saw the largest production of silver dollars that year with about 12.6 million put into circulation.

Because of the larger coin population, the no mint mark coins in “Good” or “Fine” condition usually circulate their silver melt value. This fluctuates often, but has currently hovered around the $22 mark.

Collectors are more likely to pursue a no mint mark Morgan silver dollar in “Extremely Fine” or “Uncirculated” condition. You can still find decent examples of these grades at the market for about $26.19.

The no mint mark silver dollars with the highest grades wait until they go to auction to sell, and this pays off. The current record was set in 2021 by a PCGS MS66 DMPL 1880 no mint mark Morgan silver dollar that sold for $31,200.

On top of its high grade, this coin also carries a Deep Mirror Prooflike designation that highlights its deeply reflective fields and uniform mint frost that give it a proof-like appearance.

1880 Morgan Silver Dollar Features

George T. Morgan is responsible for the iconic Morgan silver design seen on the 1880 silver dollar. Like most American coins, this coin is round in shape and has a reeded edge.

Its obverse design shows Lady Liberty’s bust, as modeled by Anna Willes Williams for Morgan. Williams, a teacher and philosopher, was recommended to Morgan by a friend, and the designer was more than pleased with how well her face appeared for the coin.

Lady Liberty wears a headband labeled LIBERTY as well as a Phrygian cap and wheat, flowers, and leaves in her hair. Above her the coin shows the country’s Latin motto, E PLURIBUS UNUM, and the 1880 date is printed beneath. The obverse also features 13 total stars along its bottom rim, divided by the date.

The bald eagle reverse has gone through several design changes, but 1880 settled with the wings stretched behind, a bundle of arrows in its left talons, and an olive branch held tight in the eagle’s right.

Inscriptions on the reverse read ONE DOLLAR along the bottom rim, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA above the eagle, and “In God We trust” between the tips of the wings.

Eighteen eighty saw the production of about 27 million Morgan silver dollars. Each one is composed of 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper (for integrity). The coin’s diameter measures 38.1 mm with a 2.4 mm thickness, and it weighs 26.73 grams (about 24 grams of silver).

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1880 S Morgan Silver Dollar Value

1880 S Morgan Silver Dollar Value

The 1880 S Morgan silver dollar minted in San Francisco involved a modest population of coins struck for circulation, and only 9 million were produced that year. Despite the lower quantity of coins, values resemble those seen for the Philadelphia silver dollars.

Lower S mark silver dollars only command their silver melt value, but the “Uncirculated” coins are more scarce and bump the value up to $45.79 at market.

The auction record holder is a remarkably well-preserved PCGS MS69 1880 S Morgan silver dollar that sold for $162,000 in 2021. Only five of the S silver dollars received this grade, and this auction saw the first public appearance for a PCGS-graded 1880 S silver dollar of this quality.

1880 O Morgan Silver Dollar Value

1880 O Morgan Silver Dollar Value

The 1880 O Morgan silver dollar produced by the New Orleans mint contains the second lowest production number from a single mint this year. New Orleans put about 5 million silver dollars into circulation this year.

This plays a major role in the jump in value you see when comparing these coins to those from the other mints. Lower grades sell for slightly more than their silver melt value, and those in “Uncirculated” condition sell for about $79.52 at market (about 1.75 times the value of the 1880 S silver dollars of similar grade).

The auction record for the 1880 O Morgan Silver dollar is a PCGS graded MS65 DMPL that sold for $54,625. This is the only coin of that grade acknowledged at PCGS with no competitors from NGC.

1880 CC Morgan Silver Dollar Value

1880 CC Morgan Silver Dollar Value

Apart from the proof coins, the 1880 CC Morgan silver dollar out of Carson City has the lowest mintage from this year. Only about 495,000 were made, making them a particular favorite of collectors.

Even the lowest grades regularly sell for around $122 while the highest graded “Uncirculated” coins sell for about $584.

It’s rare to find the coins for sale outside of an auction, so expect to pay more than this if you’re on the hunt for one. The auction record holder was a PCGS MS67 that sold for $67,562.50.

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The 1880 CC silver dollars also contain several variations of overdated coins that carry their own values and records.

1880 Proof Morgan Silver Dollar Value

1880 Proof Morgan Silver Dollar Value
Credit: pcgs

The 1880 proof Morgan silver dollar is the last variety to discuss. While it was also produced by the Philadelphia mint, only 1,355 coins were made.

Proof coins regularly remain with a higher population of highly graded coins, but they rarely enter sales due to their small number and coveted rarity. For this reason, even a proof coin at market will sell starting at $1,375 (if you’re lucky to find one).

Instead, 1880 proof silver dollars are most likely to appear at auction and sell for no less than $3,000. The reigning auction record was set in 2005 when an NGC PR69 1880 proof silver dollar sold for $70,150.

1880 Morgan Silver Dollar Grading

While professionals put a lot of thought, care, and experience into assigning a grade to an 1880 Morgan silver dollar, you can emulate their process and assign your coin a more general value.

These more general grades are liable to interpretation and won’t hold much weight in the actual value of a coin, but they help interpret the coin’s rough condition.

Heavily circulated coins fall into the “Good” category, and they’re characterized by a large loss of detail but retention of identifying marks such as year or mint mark. A “Good” portrait is simply a silhouette, while a “Fine” coin shows more details and less accumulation of circulation marks.

Most collectors pursue “Extremely Fine” or “Uncirculated” coins. The former grade may show wear, but it’s limited to high points like Liberty’s forehead or the back of her neck. When coins reach the highest grade they’re as close to brand new as possible.

You can mimic a professional grading procedure by shining a light over your Morgan silver dollar. The coin should reflect bright, uninterrupted bands of light from rim to rim and show no marks on any area.

Rare 1880 Morgan Silver Dollar Errors

The two most prevalent 1880 Morgan silver dollar errors involve an overdate and a double date, but coins may bear common mint errors due to:

  • Strike issues: involving how the design strikes the coin, such as off-center strikes
  • Planchet issues: pertaining to the coin’s planchet, such as using the wrong denomination planchet for the coin or planchet chips
  • Die issues: relating to the die that strikes the design on the coin; usually involves damaged dies

Regardless of the type of error you encounter, the coin should have professional verification that the issue occurred during minting. Post-mint damage that diminishes coin value may appear similar in certain cases.

1880 Overdate Morgan Silver Dollar

1880 Overdate Morgan Silver Dollar

Many of the 1880 CC silver dollars feature compounded overdate and reverse mint errors that muddy up the design of the coin. Most of these coins were struck in 1879 in Carson City with the 1880 date but feature the reverse design for 1878 silver dollars.

The Morgan silver dollar had several design changes even after it rolled off the mint, and the 1880 coins struck on a 1879 coin are a fine example of how quickly these changes occurred.

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The original dies features 8 tail feathers on the reverse eagle before switching to display only 7 tail feathers. Other key distinctions are the change from a flat breast to a convex breast and a parallel top arrow feather to a slanted top arrow feather.

A particularly highly graded 1880 overdate Morgan silver dollar was graded MS67 and sold for about $55,000 in 2018.

1880 Double Date Morgan Silver Dollar

1880 Double Date Morgan Silver Dollar
Credit: eBay

The 1880 double date Morgan silver dollar is another example of the reuse of coins marked the previous year, although date doubling also occurs when a worn or damaged die is used to strike coins and becomes misaligned when striking again.

If the double date features the same numbers in the same positions, the issue appears as a ghosting outline on the date and is often barely noticeable.

More severe date doubling would fall into the overstamping category when the 1879 is marked again to indicate a coin minted in 1880.

1880 Morgan Silver Dollar FAQs

Where Is the Mint Mark on an 1880 Morgan Silver Dollar?

The mint mark on an 1880 morgan silver dollar is found on the coin’s reverse between the “D” and “O” in DOLLAR.

How Much Is an 1880 Morgan Silver Dollar worth?

An 1880 Morgan silver dollar is worth about $22.52 to $584 depending on the coin’s mintage and general condition. Lower graded coins are only worth their silver melt value, but higher graded coins and collectible collections like CC silver dollars or proof coins have a premium attached to their base value.

What Makes an 1880 Silver Dollar Rare?

The first thing that makes an 1880 silver dollar rare is its age. The coins we see today have survived nearly a century and a half of life, and not every 1880 Morgan dollar made it this far.

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Coins in Mint Star are far more rare than those that went through circulation, and certain mint marks are more rare than others. The 1880 silver dollar may also have a rare mint error like an overdate that increases its exclusivity.

How Much Silver Is in an 1880 Morgan Silver Dollar?

The 1880 Morgan silver dollar contains about 0.77344 troy ounces of silver, making up 90 percent of the coin’s composition.

How Do I Know If My Silver Dollar Is Worth Money?

All silver dollars are worth more than their face value due to their silver melt value, but rare silver dollars can be worth hundreds or even thousands. To determine the value of your silver dollar, identify its date and mint mark.

Once you have a general idea of your silver dollar’s scarcity you can look into the coin’s condition and potential mint errors. It’s best to have your coin professionally graded to fully understand how much money it is worth.

How Do I Know If My 1880 Silver Dollar Is Real?

The first way to verify the authenticity of your 1880 silver dollar is to run a magnet over it. Many cheap counterfeit silver dollars use magnetic materials to emulate the appearance of the valuable coin.

A more in-depth analysis of the coin involved verifying the silver dollar’s diameter (38.10 mm), thickness (2.4 mm), and weight (26.73 grams). A professional evaluation is the final step in determining coin authenticity.

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One Comment

  1. I HAVE ORIGINAL FULL SIZED SILVER 1880 MORGAN DOLLAR..VGC CONDITION,,,WANT TO SELL…HOW MUCH I GET>>>>****WHAT YOU SELL ARE SMALLER COPIES!!! SAYEED

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