The 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar is a highly collectible item, which is worth its weight in silver (and one of our favorite coins of all-time here at Coin Value Investor). That’s true in a literal sense, as even the worst copy is still worth a decent amount when looking at the value of the raw materials.
As the first standard silver dollar minted since the passage of the Coinage Act of 1873, it’s seen as one of the more essential options from the 19th century, while there are four different types to look out for.
Trending: 1945 Lincoln Wheat Penny
First minted in 1794 in Philadelphia, you’ll be able to tell the difference between each type by looking out for a mintmark at the base of the reverse.
We’ve come up with a list containing everything you could possibly need to know about the 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar, including a buyers guide and pricing info.
What Makes a 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar Rare?
The number of coins produced are extremely rare and this causes the scarcity and high value in the 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar.
What are the rarest Morgan silver dollars?
According to coin scholars the rarest Morgan Silver dollar is the 1893-S Morgan dollar coin. This coin was produced at the San Francisco Mint and only 100,000 S Morgan dollars were produced that particular year.
1885 Morgan Silver Dollar Types
There are four 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar types, relating to the city in which it was minted.
The front has an image of Lady Liberty, with the U.S. motto; ‘E Pluribus Unum’ found at the top. The year of release is found at the bottom. Meanwhile, the reverse has an eagle, a wreath, the denomination, and a small mintmark, if applicable.
Trending: 1928 Buffalo Nickel
Of course, much will depend on both the grade and the condition, having a major impact on the overall price and value. We’ll start off with the most plentiful version, hailing from Philadelphia.
1885 O Morgan Silver Dollar
The 1885 Silver O is from New Orleans. As you may have guessed, it has an O mint mark on the reverse.
They were produced in significant numbers, with a total of 9,185,000 altogether.
Related:
1889 Morgan Silver Dollar
1886 Morgan Silver Dollar
1921 Morgan Silver Dollar
1885 Morgan Silver Dollar No Mint Mark
With 17,787,000 1885 Morgan Silver Dollars minted in Philadelphia, it’s by far the least rare.
It wouldn’t be all that surprising to find an 1885 morgan silver dollar with no mint mark on your grandpa’s old jar of coins, to be honest depending on how old he is (if your grandpa is 85 years of age or older and has jars filled with coins you better get an expert in to look at those).
Unlike the others, it has no mint mark at the base, so it’s easy to identify. (It can usually be found on the coin’s reverse side below the wreath.)
1885 CC Morgan Silver Dollar
Next up is the Carson City issue, which is by far the rarest and most valuable overall. It’s clear to see why, as only 228,000 were originally minted, which is a tiny fraction compared to the others.
Trending: 1916 Mercury Dime Value
There’s a small CC located on this 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar, and it’s the most difficult to find if you’d like the complete set.
1885 S Morgan Silver Dollar
Lastly, The 1885 S stands for San Francisco. A rarer option, just 1,497,000 were produced that year.
This has led to a slightly higher price compared to both the Philadelphia and New Orleans coins, but even uncirculated versions are reasonably affordable.
1885 Morgan Silver Dollar Values
- 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar: $39 (extremely fine) or $41 (uncirculated)
- 1885 CC Morgan Silver Dollar: $570 (ef) or $590 (uc)
- 1885 O Morgan Silver Dollar: $39 (ef) or $41 (uc)
- 1885 S Morgan Silver Dollar: $63 (ef) or $110 (uc)
Please note the above values are based on the 2021 Red Book 74th Edition.
1885 Morgan Silver Dollar FAQ
Here are answers to some of the more common questions relating to the 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar. Let us know if you have any questions that we haven’t covered.
Q: Which is the most valuable 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar?
A: The 1985 Morgan Dollar Carson City (CC) Mint is the most expensiveQ: Which is the least valuable 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar?
A: The 1885 Morgan Dollar is the least valuable at $41 uncirculated.Q: How many 1885 Morgan Silver Dollars were printed?
A: It depends on which version you’re looking at, but there were 28,697,000 minted altogether. Of course, many have been melted down or destroyed over the years.Q: What is the composition of the 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar?
A: 90% silver, 10% copper.Q: What is the weight of the 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar?
A: 26.73 grams.Q: Why are 1885 Morgan Silver Dollars so expensive?
A: Despite being produced in high numbers, the Pittman Act of 1918 led to the melting of more than 270 million Morgan Silver Dollars, which effectively means far fewer exist today than are reflected in the mintage figures discussed aboveQ: How can you tell if a coin is ‘uncirculated’?
A: An uncirculated version of the 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar will show no signs of wear, and will still look as though it’s brand new.Q: Are there any special varieties of the 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar?
A: No, the CC is seen as the rarest option, and there are no special die varieties.
1885 Morgan Silver Dollar Proof
Looking to purchase an 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar Proof coin but don’t know where to start please email us at advice@coinvaluecollector.com or DM us at the Coin Value Investor Facebook Page.
One of the best places to buy the 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar Proof is on eBay or Heritage Auctions (buy the 1885 morgan silver dollar proof on eBay now).
1885 Silver Dollar Buyers Guide & Investment Outlook
- Investment Rating: Strong Buy (4.7 out of 5)
- Ownership Disclosure: One (1) 1885 Morgan Dollar (CC), Two (2) 1885 Morgan Dollar (O), One (1) 1885 CC Morgan Silver Dollar
- Best 1985 Morgan Silver Dollar: 1885 CC Morgan Silver Dollar We look to only invest in the highest grade specimens possible (look for PCGS and NGC grades as they are the best).
Silver is always going to be a valuable commodity, while the coins are well over a century old. Currency does well from an investment perspective, while the CC version is more expensive than many of the Morgan Silver Dollars that came before.
It’s currently worth more than the melt value, which is always a good sign. Once again, we’d stick with the best possible versions if you’re aiming for the largest ROI.
They are pricey when compared to other coins, but their incredible rarity in the age of encapsulated coins makes them a good investment.