Are you looking to find out the value of your 1878 Morgan silver dollar? If so, you’ve come to the right place!
The 1878 Morgan silver dollar is a beautiful and iconic coin, valued by collectors and investors alike. It was issued in 1878 as part of the US Mint’s first series of silver dollars and has since become one of the most popular coins to collect.
In this blog post, we will provide helpful information about this rare and valuable coin. We’ll cover its history, features, obverse and reverse designs, errors, and more. Plus we’ll discuss what affects its value so that you can determine how much your 1878 Morgan silver dollar is worth.
Read on for all the details!
1878 Morgan Silver Dollar Details
- Category: Morgan dollars
- Mints: Philadelphia, Carson City, San Francisco
- Total mintage: 22,465,300
- Obverse designer: George T. Morgan
- Reverse designer: George T. Morgan
- Edge: Reeded
- Diameter: 38.1 millimeters (1.5 inches)
- Thickness: 2.9 millimeters (0.09 inches)
- Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper
- Weight: 26.73 grams
The 1878 Morgan silver dollar is a strikingly beautiful coin. It features an obverse depicting Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap, with thirteen stars around her that represent the original colonies, as well as the date “1878” and the phrase “E Pluribus Unum.” On its reverse is an eagle with outstretched wings and arrows in his talons, surrounded by the phrases, “United States of America,” “In God We Trust,” and “One Dollar.”
There are also several varieties that can be found, such as those with eagles with eight tail feathers and those with eagles with seven tail feathers. Below, we will explore more about the value of each variety.
Also Read: Top 19 Most Valuable Silver Eagles Worth Money
Value Chart
1878 Morgan Silver Dollar Value Chart |
|||||
| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated | Proof |
| 1878 No Mint Mark Morgan Silver Dollar (8 Tail Feathers) | $47 | $58 | $64 | $182 to $1,718 | $3,877 |
| 1878 No Mint Mark Morgan Silver Dollar (7 over 8 Tail Feathers) | $36 | $47 | $60 | $194 to $2,559 | / |
| 1878 No Mint Mark Morgan Silver Dollar (7 Tail Feathers with Parallel Arrows) | $36 | $47 | $58 | $97 to $1,187 | $3,863 |
| 1878 No Mint Mark Morgan Silver Dollar (7 Tail Feathers with Slanted Arrows) | $36 | $47 | $58 | $117 to $2,345 | $68,391 |
| 1878 “CC” Morgan Silver Dollar | $125 | $136 | $165 | $348 to $1,896 | / |
| 1878 “S” Morgan Silver Dollar | $36 | $47 | $56 | $75 to $362 | / |
1878 Silver Dollar Values and Varieties Guides
1878 (P) No Mint Mark Silver Dollar Value (8 Tail Feathers)
- Type: Morgan dollar
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint mark: None
- Place of minting: Philadelphia
- Year of minting: 1878
- Face value: $1
- $ price: $47 to $3,877
- Quantity produced: 750,000
- Designer: George T. Morgan
The Morgan silver dollars that were minted in Philadelphia have no mint mark. There are a few varieties of this coin, including those with an eagle with eight tail feathers.
As with all Morgan dollars, the value of a 1878 (P) silver dollar (eight tail feathers) is determined by its condition or grade. In “Good” condition, an 1878 (P) silver dollar can fetch $47, and in “Fine” condition the price can be around $58.
In “Extremely Fine” condition these coins can be worth up to $64, and for those who have a coin in Uncirculated condition, it could be worth over $182 to $1,718, depending on the grade!
There are Proof coins in this variety as well – proof coins are coins that were struck with specially polished and prepared dies, giving them a mirror-like finish. A Proof 1878 (P) Morgan silver dollar (eight tail feathers) can be worth up to $3,877, but one even sold at auction for over $75,000, which is just amazing!
1878 (P) No Mint Mark Silver Dollar Value (7 Tail Feathers)
- Type: Morgan dollar
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint mark: None
- Place of minting: Philadelphia
- Year of minting: 1878
- Face value: $1
- $ price: $36 to $68,391
- Quantity produced: 9,759,300
- Designer: George T. Morgan
The more common 1878 Morgan silver dollar variety is known as the seven tail feathers variety. However, there are actually three variations within the seven tail feather variety! There are the seven tail feathers on top of eight tail feathers, the seven tail feathers with parallel arrows, and the seven tail feathers with slanted arrows.
These varieties can be highly valuable, depending on their condition. A silver dollar with seven tail feathers on top of eight tail feathers in “Good” condition could be worth around $36, while in “Fine” condition will bring in around $47. This same variety at “Extremely Fine” condition can reach up to $60, and an “Uncirculated” coin can be worth $194 to $2,559!
If you have a Morgan silver dollar with seven tail feathers with parallel arrows in the eagle’s talons, it will be worth about $36 in “Good” condition, around $47 in “Fine” condition, $58 in “Extremely Fine” condition, and between $97 to $1,187 in “Uncirculated” condition. There are Proofs of this variety as well, which reach an impressive $3,863 value.
Lastly, Morgan silver dollars with seven tail feathers and slanted arrows will be worth around $36 in “Good” condition, $47 in “Fine” condition, about $58 in “Extremely Fine” condition, and can reach from $119 to as much as $2,345 in “Uncirculated” condition! The biggest whopper value is the Proof coin for this variety, coming in at an amazing $68,391!
1878 (CC) Carson City Silver Dollar Value
- Type: Morgan dollar
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint mark: CC
- Place of minting: Carson City
- Year of minting: 1878
- Face value: $1
- $ price: $125 to $1,896
- Quantity produced: 2,212,000
- Designer: George T. Morgan
The 1878 (CC) Carson City silver dollar is another valuable coin. This coin was minted in the Nevada city of Carson City and is highly sought-after by collectors. During this time, Carson City was heavy into mining silver, and the US Mint location mainly minted silver coins, making the CC mint mark quite historic and rare.
There is no Proof coin from this US Mint location, but this Morgan dollar in “Good” condition can be worth around $125 and will bring in more in “Fine” condition with a price of around $136. In “Extremely Fine” condition, 1878 (CC) silver dollars can be worth up to $165, and an “Uncirculated” coin can be worth from $348 to as much as $1,896! One even sold recently at auction for over $34,000!
1878 (S) San Francisco Silver Dollar Value
- Type: Morgan dollar
- Edge: Reeded
- Mint mark: S
- Place of minting: San Francisco
- Year of minting: 1878
- Face value: $1
- $ price: $36 to $362
- Quantity produced: 9,744,000
- Designer: George T. Morgan
Finally, the 1878 (S) San Francisco silver dollar variety has the most quantity produced, and thus, has the lowest value of all the 1878 Morgan silver dollars. However, those values are still nothing to sneeze at, with a “Good” condition coin being worth around $36, a “Fine” condition reaching up to $47, and an “Extremely Fine” example going for about $56. The highest value goes to the 1878 (S) silver dollar at “Uncirculated” condition, which can be worth between $75 and as much as $362.
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1878 Morgan Silver Dollar History
The 1878 Morgan silver dollar was the first Morgan silver dollar to ever be minted, and it certainly made a name for itself among coin enthusiasts. The silver coin is one of the most beloved and sought-after coins from the United States, prized as a collector’s item. Minted between 1878 and 1904 and then again in 1921 and 2021, the Morgan silver dollar has an interesting history that begins with its designer, George T. Morgan.
Originally from England, Morgan was hired to work at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia where he soon began work on a new design for silver coins. His design featured Lady Liberty on the obverse side, while on the reverse side he included a majestic eagle holding arrows and an olive branch as symbols of strength and peace respectively. The overall look was sleek and beautiful, giving rise to a coin now known as the Morgan silver dollar.
At the time of its release, there were two varieties of this coin minted – one with eight tail feathers (the more rare variety) and one with seven tail feathers (the more common variety). Both varieties are highly sought after today due to their popularity among collectors as well as their historical value as part of America’s early currency system.
In addition to its popular design, the Morgan Silver Dollar is also highly valued for its composition which consists of 90% silver and 10% copper – making it one of a few coins with such high levels of silver content. This makes them valuable not only from a collector’s standpoint but also from an investment perspective since they retain their value much better than other coins made up entirely of base metals such as nickel or zinc.
As a final note about this unique coin, it should be mentioned that although these coins were primarily minted at the Philadelphia Mint in 1878, some were also produced in Carson City and San Francisco – adding further interest to collectors who are looking for rarer varieties of this coin.
All in all, the 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar remains an incredibly valuable piece of American history that continues to draw interest amongst both numismatists and investors alike.
Also Read: Top 19 Most Valuable Morgan Dollars Worth Money
1878 Silver Dollar Grading
Grading a silver dollar is an important step for collectors who are looking to ascertain its value and authenticity. Silver dollars from 1878 are particularly valuable and rare, so it’s essential to be able to differentiate between various grades.
The first step in grading a silver dollar is to inspect the overall condition of the coin. “Good” grade coins are those that have been circulated and show lots of wear. Coins with “Fine” grade will have slightly more detail than those in “Good” condition, but will still show some signs of circulation.
“Extremely Fine” coins are the next step up and these exhibits nearly full detailing on both sides with only slight evidence of wear along the highest points of the coin’s design (such as Lady Liberty’s hairline or eagle’s wing tips). Lastly, “Uncirculated” coins are those which haven’t been circulated at all – these will display full details on both sides and very little to no evidence of commercial wear whatsoever.
In addition to visually inspecting the coin for its overall condition, it’s also important to pay attention to any errors or defects that may be present. Errors can include a number of issues that could go wrong while the minting press is producing coins. Any type of error can potentially increase the value of a Morgan silver dollar depending on its severity and rarity.
1878 Silver Dollar Errors
1878 Morgan Silver Dollar Double Die Error
One of the first steps in grading any 1878 Morgan silver dollar is to inspect the coin for any errors or defects. Errors can include a variety of issues that may have occurred while the minting press was producing coins, and some errors are more valuable than others depending on their severity and rarity.
Some of these Morgan silver dollars feature double die errors on the obverse side or on the reverse side. Double die errors happen when two images are pressed into one side of the coin. This results in a doubling effect when the second image is printed on top of the first image – making it look like there’s an extra layer on the surface of the coin.
Double die errors have been found on a few of the 1878 Morgan silver dollar mint marks, including but not necessarily limited to the Philadelphia and Carson City Mints. In an “Uncirculated” grade, these coins could go for around $90 – or even more, if they are sold at auction.
1878 Morgan Silver Dollar Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you know more about the 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar, here are some frequently asked questions about this coin:
Should I Have My Morgan Silver Dollar Cleaned?
No, if you are getting your silver dollar appraised or selling it – even if you are keeping it and displaying it in your home – it’s not a good idea to clean your coin. Doing so will likely reduce its value.
Is the 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar Rare?
Yes, 1878 Morgan silver dollars are considered to be quite rare coins due to their limited mintage. Collectors love them!
Conclusion
With its storied past, the 1878 Morgan silver dollar is sure to remain a prized collectible for many years to come. For collectors looking to buy or sell one of these vintage silver coins, it’s important to understand the features, obverse and reverse designs, types of error coins available as well as current market prices in order to make an informed decision that will help them get the most out of their investment.
Are you looking for one? Let us know in the comments!