During the late 1800s, silver dollars were a popular form of currency in the United States. The 1879 Silver Dollar was one of the coins produced during this time. We’ll learn about the various mints of the 1879 Morgan Dollars and what influences their values in today’s market.
Some people accepted these, believing that they were genuine gold coins and worth $5 instead of 5 cents. The Mint soon caught the problem, and later in 1883 the reverse of the Liberty Nickel was changed. The motto E PLURIBUS UNUM was moved above the wreath and in its former place the word CENTS was added. One Dollar coin of the USA from 1972 - E pluribus unum. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. The date, along with the words “E PLURIBUS UNUM” are separated by the 13 stars. The backside of the coin has an eagle with its wings raised. The eagle sits on a scroll, while the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” rest above the eagle. Arrows and an olive branch are opposite the scroll. Now you know what some of your coins may be worth. The United States Mint first used E Pluribus Unum on coins in 1795, on the Half Eagle $5.00 gold piece. The reverse design motif is based on the Great Seal of the United States and depicts an eagle holding a banner in its beak bearing the motto.
History of the 1879 Silver Dollar
The 1879 Silver dollar was created by George T. Morgan. Morgan was the engraver who became famous for designing many popular coins, including the Morgan dollars. The 1879 silver dollar was a result of the Bland-Allison Act.
In the late 1850s, the first major silver discovery in the US, the Comstock Lode, nearly ended the California Gold Rush. This put a lot of pressure on the prices of silver throughout the world.
The Bland-Allison Act was passed in 1878. The act required the Treasury Department to buy large quantities of silver and turn them into coins. To enhance the economy, the treasury chose to make silver dollars.
When George Morgan first came to the United States from England, he was immediately hired as an assistant engraver in 1876. He became very successful at designing coins and designed the 1879 Silver Dollars, among others.
Mintmarks of the 1879 Silver Dollar
The silver dollar that was minted in 1879 consists of 5 mints with 6 variations. Each mint represents a different city. The initials are located below the bow on the backside of the coin or under the tail of the bald eagle right.
The mintmarks are one of the small details that help decide the value of the 1879 Morgan silver dollar. Let’s see what the mintmarks mean.
If it has no mint mark, it was minted at the Philadelphia mint.
The letters “CC” means the coin was struck at the Carson Mint. The potential value may be more with this finding.
If you find an “S” on your coin, it means it was minted at the San Francisco mint.
An “O” indicates it was struck in New Orleans.
A “D” mark means it was minted in Colorado.
Values of the 1879 Silver Dollar
Many factors affect the value of the 1879 Silver Dollar today. The condition of the coin, the face value, its rarity, and popularity all influence its value. The minimum going rate seems to be $18 and higher.
Let’s look at the 1879-S coin. Unless you have this San Francisco minted coin in brilliant, uncirculated condition, the value may be $40 or less. A higher grade condition mint state might get you $65. You would want it graded A rare to get top dollar.
The 1879-S has a flat-breasted reverse like the early 1878 varieties. This Reverse of 1878 variety is rare. If it is in uncirculated condition, it is considered very rare, in Proof-like condition. There were 9,110,000 strikes of the 1879-S Silver dollar.
Next, let’s learn about the 1879-O silver dollar. The New Orleans minted coin has similar value details of the San Francisco coin. An 1879-O silver dollar with rich detail will usually sell for more.
There were fewer circulation strikes, at 2,887,000. If you feel you have a high grade of this coin, it is best to get it graded by NGC or PCGS before selling it.
We’ve saved the best for last. If you are a collector, the 1879-CC silver dollar is the most sought after. With good reason too.
Less than 2% of all Morgan dollars came from the famed “CC” mint. If you are lucky enough to have an 1879 silver dollar from the Carson City mint, get it graded, no matter what condition it’s in. Its low mintage, as well as its connection to the west, seem to have boosted these in value.
If it’s in mint condition, it can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Some have sold from $3,500 to $20,000 and ever higher.
There were 756,000 circulation strikes for the 1879 “CC” Silver Dollar. The “CC” is minted under the bow on the reverse side. The mint mark may be heavily rusted – these are known as the “Capped Die” variety.
On these coins, the mint mark appears to be a larger “CC” over a smaller “CC”. These are still popular with collectors.
1879 Schoolgirl Silver Dollar
The 1879 Schoolgirl Silver Dollar is another of George Morgan’s designs. The reeded-edge dollar has Lady Liberty facing left and her hair tied with a ribbon. “LIBERTY” is inscribed in the hair band.
Lady Liberty wears a string of pearls. The date, along with the words “E PLURIBUS UNUM” are separated by the 13 stars.
The backside of the coin has an eagle with its wings raised. The eagle sits on a scroll, while the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” rest above the eagle. Arrows and an olive branch are opposite the scroll.
Now you know what some of your coins may be worth. On any coin, you want to look for signs of wear. You want crisp details on Silver Dollars. You may see a rainbow effect that is known as toning and it does not affect the value.
Condition of your coins is always a factor. Naturally, the better the condition of your coins, the more they are generally worth. Remember old coins do not always spell value as there are a number of factors you need to take into account.
We’ve discussed a few, but to recap, the general appeal of the coin and whether it’s something people are looking for affects the value. There are many old coins that don’t sell for more than $20.
The Silver dollar market is a strong one. The number of coins minted and how many have survived circulation affect the value as does the quality and condition of the coin.
E Pluribus Unum Coin Half-dollar
Stack’s Bowers Galleries presented Part II of The E Pluribus Unum Collection of colonial coins and Washingtoniana at a Nov. 11 session, following the auctioneer’s successful offering of the collection’s New Jersey copper coins as Part I in November 2019.
The Nov. 11 auction realized more than $1.1 million, according to Stack’s Bowers Galleries.
Cataloger John Kraljevich praised the collection’s diversity in his catalog introduction, saying, “There wasn’t a series that could be explored more deeply than most collectors would care to that evaded this collectors deep and probing attention. ... This is not a cookie cutter collection.”
He wrote, “It fits this unpredictable and unexpected time,” before advising bidders, “look, learn and find inspiration for your next numismatic passion.”
Stack’s Bowers Galleries wrote of the offering, “This second selection offered nearly 500 lots focused on 17th and 18th century colonial types, including over 200 Washington pieces. Of special note were nearly 40 Machin’s Mills halfpence by die marriage, more than 60 Connecticut coppers, and dozens of numismatic delicacies featuring multiple strikes, brockages, and high-quality overstrikes.”
The first lot was a seldom encountered, undated, circa 1584 Raleigh Plantation token graded Very Fine 30 by Professional Coin Grading Service that the cataloger noted was “a superb specimen of this iconic if enigmatic early issue, long associated with the abortive first attempts to establish an English settlement on the North Carolina coast decades before Jamestown.”
While long-collected alongside issues that circulated in colonial America, even by the late 19th century researchers doubted its connection to America. But as explained, “That has dimmed none of the enthusiasm for this medal, for a few reasons. Its designs are charming, and its sentiment certainly fits most of the earliest English attempts at permanents settlements, from Roanoke Island to Bermuda to Jamestown.” The sentiment expressed in its legend summarizes life as a path to death.
Described as “better looking than most,” it was struck from Die Pair 1 best identified by the position of the seated figure’s arm that touches the skull and the rose thorn that points directly to the star below it — and realized $18,000.
A second example of the type, struck from Die Pair 2 on a thick planchet, graded Very Fine 25, sold for $5,040. “Die pair 2 is best identified by the position of the seated figure’s forearm (not touching the skull) and the rose thorn that points to the right of the star below it,” according to the cataloger.
The catalog description adds: “Though a bit soft on some high points, this is an especially high grade example of this jeton or medalet, with good gloss over attractive golden surfaces. Darker toning frames the peripheries on both sides and highlights the complete rings of denticles. The central reverse is somewhat poorly struck, and some marks are seen there. Problem free aside from some truly trivial old scratches that blend into the obverse design elements. The head of Ouroboros is especially nicely defined for the issue, and the skull is as bold as ever seen.”
Yankee doodle copper
While Part II did not present a complete overview of the more than 300 varieties of Connecticut coppers, Kraljevich wrote that the ones included could be considered “mind boggling.” The session’s most expensive offering was the finest-known 1786 “Scholar’s Head” (or the more plainly stated “Large Head Right”) Connecticut copper, listed as Miller 3-D.1 in The State Coinage of Connecticut by Henry C. Miller. It was graded About Uncirculated 53 by PCGS and sold for $66,000.
The catalog entry made note of the challenges in applying the Sheldon 1 to 70 grading scale for these handmade coins, referencing its previous offering at the Stack’s auction of the Herbert M. Oechsner Collection. “Graded fully Mint State in the 1988 Oechsner sale, the grade assigned today is both a misunderstanding of this coin and totally irrelevant,” with the cataloger adding, “Graded Fine-15 or MS-68, this is far and away the finest known survivor from one of the most famous die marriages in the entire Connecticut series.”
Even a bit of original red color is seen in the most protected areas, with Stack’s Bowers praising, “The sharpness is leagues ahead of any other known example, showing the thoughtful expression on the obverse portrait, the curved hair strands, the large laurel leaves, and the crisp high relief triangular denticles.” Close observation reveals an endearing detail on the reverse, where “the bemused smile of the seated figure is boldly rendered, along with facial details found on no other specimen.”
So confident was the cataloger of its quality that the description concludes, “If a better one turns up, we will eat this catalog, page by page, while whistling Yankee Doodle, the official state song of the state of Connecticut. No finer example exists.”
The firm adds, “The surfaces are lustrous, not merely glossy, but full of original mint frost. Faded mint color persists around the letters of AUCTORI, the back of the portrait, and most of the letters of CONNEC. Some hints, trending toward gold, also persist on the reverse. Most of the surfaces are a lovely deep steel, even and choice.”
More cuddly than ferocious
Few pieces collected among the Pre-Federal, Colonial American issues can beat the London Elephant tokens for their charm. These tokens were struck around 1672 to 1694 and are undated, with the “Red Book” noting that two examples are known to have been struck over a 1672 British halfpenny, before explaining, “These pieces were not struck for the colonies, and probably did not circulate widely in America, although a few may have been carried there by colonists.”
An article by R. Neil Fulghum published by the University of North Carolina about a Carolina Elephant token — which shares an obverse motif — describes the design wonderfully as, “a full tusk-to-tail image of an elephant standing on a slightly textured plain. The animal is portrayed in left profile, with its head slightly bowed, its trunk tightly curling backward, and ‘possessing an ear that in form resembles a withered tulip.’ ” To modern eyes the elephant looks more cuddly than ferocious.
The offered “Thin Planchet” example, graded Mint State 63 brown by PCGS, was overstruck on a Charles II halfpenny. The cataloger observes, “The title CAROLO from the halfpenny undertype appears above GOD on the reverse (suggesting the sort of monarchist beliefs that got Charles II’s father killed).”
The cataloger adds, “Well centered, with denticles framing all of the obverse but at the rounded rim at top, the reverse nearly ideal,” noting also, “Among the finest known overstruck London Elephant tokens, and one of the best Thin Planchet examples extant as well.”
The coin is described as “lustrous light brown with exceptional frosty surfaces and a hint of pale golden toning.” Stack’s Bowers Galleries adds, “Aside from a single tiny contact mark behind the elephant, this coin is about as choice as could be hoped for.” It realized $10,800 in the November auction.
E Pluribus Unum Coin 1883
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