- Year: 1878
- Mint Mark: S
- Type: Morgan Silver Dollar
- Price: $38.00-$300.00+
- Face Value: 1.00 USD
- Produced: 9,774,000
- Edge: Reeded
- Silver Content: 90%
- Silver Weight: .7735 oz.
- Melt Value: $21.1
Notes: With nearly 10 million of the 1878 S Morgan Silver Dollars minted these are the 2nd most widely minted of the Morgans. With prices ranging from $30+ to $300+ dollars each these Silver Dollars are both affordable and a must have for any serious coin collector.
Price Chart
Rates listed here refer to professionally graded and slabbed coins. If new to collecting the prices below might not make sense.
San Francisco Minted 1878 Silver Dollars
- Grade AU55 = $53-$88
- Grade AU58 = $60-$100
- Grade MS60 = $105-$125
- Grade MS61 = $105-$175
- Grade MS62 = $113-$188
- Grade MS63 = $120-$200
- Grade MS64 = $210-$350
- Grade MS65 = $323-$538
- Grade MS66 = $825-$1,375
Is the list above a little overwhelming? If so, take 5 minutes to learn all about Coin Grading.
It's also important to note...Prices are subject to the same supply and demand laws as everything else. Coins sold at the same auction house 10x, would fetch drastically different bids each session. To raise your chances of receiving top dollar read How to Get the Most for your Coins.
We've personally researched these values. If you enjoy our content please return the favor and share this page with your friends.
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How much is a 1878 S Morgan Silver Dollar worth?
In Average Circulated (AC) condition it's worth around $38.00, one in certified mint state (MS+) condition could bring as much as $300 at auction. This price does not reference any standard coin grading scale. So when we say Average Circulated, we mean in a similar condition to other coins circulated in 1878, and mint state meaning it is certified MS+ by one of the top coin grading companies. *** [?].
Specs & Design
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.
Designer: George T. Morgan
Front (Obverse): Profile view of Lady Liberty looking to the left. The words "E Pluribus Unum" that translates to "Out of Many, One" referring to the many states that make the country the United States. The date is located at the center bottom. 13 stars circle the coin adjacent to the lettering. These represent the original 13 colonies.
Back (Reverse): The reverse is a bald eagle clasping arrows and an olive branch in its claws. This represents peace and war, as the United States is capable of both. The eagle's wings are spread out and it too is glancing to the left. The words "In God We Trust", "United States of America", and "One Dollar" are all present on the reverse as well.
Most Valuable
The most valuable Morgan Silver Dollar's. Prices listed are for MS-65 certified. Visit the link to learn more about each coin.
| Image | Year | Mint | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
1893 | S | $550k |
 |
1901 | $425.5k | |
 |
1889 | CC | $280k |
 |
1884 | S | $250k |
 |
1893 | O | $180k |
 |
1895 | O | $165k |
 |
1896 | O | $140k |
 |
1886 | O | $140k |
 |
1892 | S | $130k |
 |
1893 | CC | $70k |
 |
1895 | $70k | |
 |
1879 | CC | $49k |
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 |
1989 | P | $345.22 |
|
1989 | $345,000 | |
|
1989 | D | $345 |
| Image | Name | Mint | Worth |
Want more? Click here to see the most valuable coins ever minted.
Hardest to Find
What is the rarest Morgan Silver Dollar?
| Name | Produced |
|---|---|
| 1893 S | 100,000 |
| 1885 CC | 228,000 |
| 1881 CC | 296,000 |
| 1893 O | 300,000 |
| 1899 | 330,000 |
| 1889 CC | 350,000 |
| 1893 | 378,000 |
| 1895 S | 400,000 |
| 1895 O | 450,000 |
| 1880 CC | 591,000 |
| 1888 S | 657,000 |
| 1893 CC | 677,000 |
| 1889 S | 700,000 |
| 1886 S | 750,000 |
| 1879 CC | 756,000 |
| 1895 | 880,000 |
| 1892 | 1,036,000 |
| 1882 CC | 1,133,000 |
| 1884 CC | 1,136,000 |
| 1883 CC | 1,204,000 |
| Name | Produced |
Are 1878 S Morgan Silver Dollars Silver?
Yes! Morgan Dollar's produced in 1878 are 90% silver to be precise, and contain .7735 troy oz or 24.05 grams in total of .999 pure silver. Silver weight is measured in troy ounces. Troy ounces weigh about 2 grams more than the standard ounce. CoinTrackers has built a tool that will let you know if your coin is silver or not. The tool is called Is My Coin Silver?.
Numismatic vs Intrinsic Value:
This coin in poor condition is still worth $16.9 more than the intrinsic value from silver content of $21.1, this coin is thus more valuable to a collector than to a silver bug. Coins worth more to a collectors may be a better long term investment. If the metal prices drop you will still have a coin that a numismatic would want to buy.
Want more info? Then read Coin Collecting Investment an article that details the benifits of coin collecting as a way to build wealth. Also learn how to properly store your coins.
Current silver melt value* for a 1883 CC Morgan Silver Dollar is $21.1 and this price is based off the current silver spot price of $27.28 This value is dynamic so bookmark it and comeback for an up to the minute silver melt value.
***Price subject to standard supply and demand laws, dealer premiums, and other market variations. Prices represent past values fetched at online auctions, estate sales, certified coins being sold by dealers, and user submitted values. While we wholeheartedly try to give honest price estimates there are many factors besides appearance, metal content, and rarity that help make up the coins overall value. Call or visit your local coin dealer for more information.
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