Die state and strike quality are important factors, especially for New Orleans mint coins. Well-struck gold trading online examples with full breast feathers on the eagle and sharp hair details on Liberty can command premiums. Bag marks and other surface imperfections can significantly reduce value, particularly in higher grades. 1885 silver dollars with New Orleans “O” mint marks are one of the most common mint-state Morgan dollars. Circulation-strike 1885 silver dollars minted in Carson City are consistently more valuable across the grades. Because of their popularity, Morgan silver dollars are prone to countgerfeiting.

Collectors who pursue the many VAM (Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis) varieties may find several die variations to pursue from 1885. Any silver dollar showing signs of a past cleaning runs the risk of being avoided and ignored by discerning collectors. Once cleaned, Morgan dollars lose approval to a large segment of potential collectors. It is a very nice 1885 silver dollar, lively and eye appealing, not the washed out look of a cleaned and processed coin. Now add in the popularity of collecting silver dollars and collector demand, the result, many are worth far above silver value.

However, certain things like mint marks, error coins, and die varieties can all increase the coin’s value. In addition to the regular strike of 1885 silver dollars, the Philadelphia mint produced proof coins specially struck for collectors. Many 1885 silver dollars are valuable in circulated and uncirculated condition due to the coin’s esp32 vs esp8266 silver content. But, proof silver dollars and uncirculated 1885-CC silver dollars are the most valuable in the series because of their scarcity. Since the San Francisco mint struck a modest 1,497,000 Morgan silver dollars in 1885, you can expect high prices, particularly for well-preserved coins. While those in circulated condition typically cost under $200, rare coins in the mint state always reach significant sums.

The 1885 silver dollar has a reeded edge, while the inner rim features decorative ridges throughout the coin’s diameter. Lady Liberty’s left-facing portrait wearing a Phrygian cap features prominently on the obverse of the 1885 silver dollar. The best-preserved specimens from a regular strike in an MS 68 grade are worth $45,000 to $60,000. Collectors are often prepared to set aside $75,000 to $90,000 for deep mirror proof-like pieces.

How Do You Know If You Have A Valuable 1885 Silver Dollar?

You can see Lady Liberty on the Morgan silver dollar obverse surrounded by the DATE and saying E PLURIBUS UNUM. Metal composition – You can hardly notice a difference in silver content with the naked eye. However, you can check your coin’s magnetic characteristics since silver is not a magnetic metal. The most pricey is the one in an MS 68 grade sold at Heritage Auctions in 2015 for $37,600. CoinTrackers.com estimates the value of a 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar in average condition to be worth $30.30, while examples in high mint state can fetch up to $151.50.

Some details might also be missing, and the remaining space on the coin will just be plain metal. You will see a “CC” mint mark for Carson City, an “O” mint mark for New Orleans, or an “S” mint mark for San Francisco. Look for well-struck coins with very few scratches or signs of wear and exhibit vivid details. Because 1885 is a commonly found year of Morgan dollars, you want to be selective in choosing a coin with a higher grade.

  • The most popular coins of the GSA Hoard are the Morgan dollars minted in Carson City.
  • For example, if it is off-center towards 12 o’clock, it means the design is shifted directly up.
  • Bag marks and other surface imperfections can significantly reduce value, particularly in higher grades.
  • Morgan silver dollars are some of the most collectible in the history of United States coinage.
  • Proof-like and deep mirror proof-like surfaces can significantly increase value, especially for Philadelphia mint coins.

GSA Hoard

His commitment to helping collectors and individuals navigate the world of finance has made Coins-Value a trusted resource in the industry. You will have a certificate of authenticity if you have an 1885 silver dollar from the GSA Hoard. So, for this error, you want to examine all over your coin for any signs of marks left by a foreign object. This error happens when an object gets between the planchet and the die during striking. The foreign object (debris, a piece of metal, a wire, etc.) then leaves an imprint on the coin.

That year, only 930 proof silver dollars were struck, making examples extremely rare and valuable. Values for these proof coins range from $1,375 to $37,500, but cameo and deep cameo examples can fetch as much as $60,000 and $80,000, respectively. Since the Carson City mint produced 228,000 Morgan silver dollars in 1885, surviving pieces in the mint state are rare. The most valuable are scarce deep mirror proof-like specimens worth an impressive $75,000 to $90,000.

  • Error coins, or mint errors, result from a mistake made in the minting of the coin.
  • The 1885 silver dollar has a reeded edge, while the inner rim features decorative ridges throughout the coin’s diameter.
  • Metal composition – You can hardly notice a difference in silver content with the naked eye.

However this is just a minimum value representing how much a circulated-worn 1885 dollar is worth. George T. Morgan, an engraver at the US Mint, would then create the next silver dollar for the country. Young school teacher Anna Williams acted as the model for the Morgan silver dollar’s obverse Lady Liberty design. He changed her picture on the coin, making her look middle-aged. This upheld the tradition of having a mother, Lady Liberty, depicted on the nation’s coinage. The Morgan silver dollar was made from 1878 to 1904 and then again in 1921.

The reverse of the 1885 Morgan silver dollar

We will explore the worth of each variety and discover errors that can increase your coin’s value by hundreds or thousands of dollars. You might be glad to discover that the 1885 silver dollar is worth more than face value. So, this coin can be a good investment whether selling or buying. Covering Bust Dollars beginning in 1794 next Seated dollars through Morgan and the last of the Peace silver dollars. All include value charts, alongside grading images to find the accurate value of your old dollars. Likewise, the 1885-S silver dollar, minted in San Francisco, will have its “S” mint mark below the bow.

With auctions, coins may sell for abnormally low prices or reach record highs, and this can mean coin values fluctuate from month to month as those numbers update. It can also mean that coins for sale on APMEX may be priced a little higher or lower than the coin value shown here. Proof coins are often more valuable than regular issue coins because there is always some variation between them and their base or circulation issues. The main reason for this is that proof coins are meant to be perfect examples of their corresponding types. Since each proof coin is minted in a small quantity, it will have less variation than its base or circulation issues.

The 1885 silver dollar with no mint mark is worth around $48 in very fine condition. In uncirculated condition the price is around $70 for coins with an MS 60 grade. Uncirculated coins with a grade of MS 65 can sell for around $225. One type of coin that you should be aware of is the extremely fine grade. This coin usually commands a higher price than other grades because it is in better condition than most coins.

Other Years From This Coin Series:

On the other hand, those with an MS 68 rating are precious and can cost over $20,000. The auction record won a coin sold at Legend Rare Coin Auctions in 2015 for an incredible $39,950. This coin has a total mass of 26.73 g, a diameter of 1.5 in, and a thickness of 2.4 mm.It’s edge is Reeded, and the coins are composed of 90.0% Silver & 10.0% Copper. Chris McPherson is a lifelong collector fxtm forex broker review turned shop owner who opened ChrisMcPherson’s Souvenir Shop in 2005.

Morgan Silver Dollar Value Guides

The gold rush of the 1850s to 1860s led to the discovery of large silver deposits in the West. The inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and ONE DOLLAR struck along the rim surround a centrally positioned eagle with spread wings. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST is above its head, while you can see a laurel wreath below its talons holding three arrows and an olive branch. The most expensive proof Morgan struck this year is the one in a PR 69 grade sold in 2011 at Goldberg Auctioneers for an unbelievable $92,000. For instance, you can find those in an MS 60 grade for approximately $50 to $60.

On the other hand, pieces in the mint state are expensive and cost $55 to $1,175, depending on the preservation level. Today there is a wide range of common to rare coin values found in your box of old coins. From your old pennies to gold coins, all US coin series are covered. Check value charts, identify mintmark locations and judge condition using grading images… all combine to accurately discover the value of your old coins.

If you are still unsure about the price of your coins, you can appraise and sell your coins for free through our verified platform. The most expensive Morgan minted this year also came from the Carson City mint. This coin in an MS 68+ grade was paid $135,125 at Legend Rare Coin Auctions in 2015. Then read Coin Collecting Investment an article that details the benefits of coin collecting as a way to build wealth. 96 distinct date-and-mint combinations created more than 600 million Morgan dollars, and hundreds of millions were eventually destroyed.

At the time of sale, the coins came with a title card in a plastic holder, a black box, and a certificate of authenticity. General Services Administration (GSA) of approximately 3 million Morgan dollars. Additionally, all values are conservative estimates based on research. Please note all values are subject to change due to the market or circumstances unaccounted for during research and publication.