Morgan dollar key dates: the rare years, mint marks and mintages

The scarcest Morgan dollars are the 1893-S (100,000 struck), the 1895 (known only as proofs), the 1889-CC, 1893-CC and 1894, plus dates like the 1884-S and 1901 that are common worn but rare in mint condition. Check the date and the mint mark under the wreath on the back first.

By the Coin Scanner team · Updated 2026-10-13

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The Morgan dollar is the big silver "cartwheel" that collectors love most. Hundreds of millions were made, so a typical one is worth a little more than its silver. A short list of dates and mint marks, however, are genuine rarities, and a few common dates become very valuable only in top condition. This guide covers which ones to look for and how to check yours.

A short history: silver politics, melting and hoards

The coin was created by politics, not demand. Silver-mining interests pushed through the Bland-Allison Act of February 28, 1878, which made the Treasury buy two to four million ounces of silver a month and coin it into dollars. Mint Director Henry Linderman steered the design job to George T. Morgan, a British-born engraver hired in 1876. Silver purchases continued under the later Sherman Act. After the Panic of 1893, Congress repealed its silver-buying clause, and that is why Philadelphia struck only 110,000 dollars in 1894.

Production stopped after 1904. Then the Pittman Act of 1918 allowed the government to melt silver dollars, mostly to sell the silver to Britain during World War I. NGC puts the total melted at 270,232,722 coins. The act also required replacements, so the Morgan came back for one last year in 1921. The old hubs had been destroyed, so the 1921 coins were struck from newly made master dies and look noticeably different from earlier dates. Later that year the Peace dollar replaced it (see our Peace dollar guide).

Huge numbers of Morgans sat in vaults for decades, which is why so many survive in mint condition. When the Treasury stopped paying out silver dollars in 1964, about 2.9 million remained, mostly Carson City coins. The General Services Administration (GSA) sold them by mail bid between 1972 and 1980.

Morgan dollar key dates and mintages

Mintage figures are as listed by NGC Coin Explorer; the 1889-CC figure is confirmed by NGC and CoinWeek. NGC also counts the 1879-CC among the major keys. It was largely absent from the GSA sales, so fewer nice examples survive.

1878: eight, seven, or seven-over-eight tail feathers

The first 1878 reverse showed an eagle with eight tail feathers. Soon after production started, the Mint ordered a change to seven. Some dies were re-hubbed, which left the tips of the old feathers peeking out below the new ones. That gives three main 1878 Philadelphia types: 8TF (NGC estimates about three-quarters of a million struck), 7/8TF and 7TF. Count the long feathers below the eagle on the back of your coin.

How to check your Morgan dollar

1. Read the date on the front, below Liberty's head.
2. Find the mint mark on the back, just under the wreath and above the word DOLLAR. No letter means Philadelphia.
3. Weigh it. A genuine coin weighs 26.73 g, so a weight that is clearly off is a red flag. Our silver test guide covers safe checks.
4. Look hard at the mint mark on key dates. NGC lists the 1893-S and 1889-CC among the most counterfeited U.S. coins. Most fakes it sees are common 1893 or 1889 Philadelphia dollars with an S or CC added. Outright counterfeits also turn up, though NGC says they are usually less deceptive.
5. Judge the wear. NGC suggests checking the hair above Liberty's eye and ear, the top of her cap and the eagle's breast. Those are the high points that wear first.

What drives a Morgan dollar's value

• Date and mint mark. The 1893-S, 1895, 1889-CC and 1893-CC sit far above the rest.
• Grade. Condition can matter more than the date. In NGC's price guide (October 2026 update), the 1884-S is listed at $120 in Extremely Fine 40 but $9,000 in Mint State 60. For the 1893-S, NGC's guide (last updated March 2023) started at $3,000 even in the lowest grade.
• Surface and eye appeal. Prooflike and deep-mirror prooflike coins (PL and DMPL) are highly prized. Scratches, cleaning and harsh toning reduce value.
• Certification. A genuine key date in a PCGS or NGC holder usually sells more easily than a raw coin.

For a quick first read, scan both sides with Coin Scanner. It identifies the coin, reads the date and mint mark, and gives an estimated value range. Treat that number as a starting point, not an appraisal.

The 2021 anniversary Morgan dollars

Public Law 116-286 authorized new silver dollars from January 1, 2021, to mark 100 years since the last Morgan and the first Peace dollar. Per NGC, the 2021 Morgan came in five versions: no mint mark, D, S, and Philadelphia-struck coins with raised "CC" and "O" privy marks honoring the closed Carson City and New Orleans mints. Each version was limited to 175,000. These are modern collector coins and are easy to tell apart by the 2021 date.

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