1879-O Morgan Dollar Value
A 1879-O Morgan Dollar is worth roughly $31.00 to $706 depending on its condition, while the raw metal inside it is valued at $28.23 as of 2026-06-01 Exceptional, certified pieces regularly exceed the top of that range.
1879-O Morgan Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $28.23 |
| Good (G-4) | $31.00 to $46.00 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $35.00 to $51.00 |
| Fine (F-12) | $39.50 to $58.00 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $47.00 to $69.00 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $60.00 to $88.00 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $81.50 to $120 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $120 to $176 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $192 to $282 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $480 to $706 |
Estimated retail range, updated 2026-06-15. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.
How much is a 1879-O Morgan Dollar worth today?
At the entry level, well-worn examples bring about $31.00. The same coin in gem uncirculated condition is a $706 coin. Grade is everything: two examples of the 1879-O Morgan Dollar can differ in price by an order of magnitude based purely on preservation.
1879-O Morgan Dollar specifications
- Series
- Morgan Dollar
- Year
- 1879
- Mint mark
- O
- Mintage
- 2,887,000
- Composition
- 90% silver, 10% copper
- Weight
- 26.73 g
- Diameter
- 38.1 mm
- Edge
- Reeded
- Designer
- George T. Morgan
- Silver content
- 0.77344 troy oz
Mintage figure: US Mint reports (approximate).
Where is the mint mark on a 1879 Morgan Dollar?
Identifying a 1879-O Morgan Dollar hinges on one small letter: the "O" of New Orleans. On the reverse, just below the wreath bow and above the letters DO in DOLLAR Verify it before pricing the coin, because a 1879 from a different mint can be worth a very different amount.
What makes the 1879-O Morgan Dollar valuable
Every 1879-O Morgan Dollar contains 0.7734 troy ounces of pure silver, currently worth $28.23. That intrinsic value is a hard floor under the price: no matter how worn the coin, the silver inside cannot be graded away.
A mintage of 2,887,000 makes the 1879-O Morgan Dollar moderately available, though it is noticeably tougher than the bulk dates of the series, particularly in higher grades.
Few series carry the following that supports the 1879-O Morgan Dollar. Morgan, recruited from the Royal Mint in London, modeled Liberty on Philadelphia schoolteacher Anna Willess Williams rather than the conventional Greek profile. A coin that thousands of collectors are actively assembling into sets never lacks for a market.
Summary: the 1879-O Morgan Dollar is valued between $31.00 and $706 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.