1881 Morgan Dollar Value
Depending on how well it survived, a 1881 Morgan Dollar brings anywhere from $29.00 to $282, and its metal content alone is worth $28.23 as of 2026-06-01 See the grade table below for exactly where your coin falls.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1881 Morgan Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $28.23 |
| Good (G-4) | $29.00 to $38.00 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $29.00 to $39.50 |
| Fine (F-12) | $29.00 to $41.50 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $30.50 to $45.00 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $35.00 to $51.00 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $42.00 to $62.00 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $53.00 to $77.50 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $72.00 to $106 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $192 to $282 |
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.
What is a 1881 Morgan Dollar worth right now?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1881 Morgan Dollar starts around $29.00. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $282. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1881 Morgan Dollar specifications
- Series
- Morgan Dollar
- Year
- 1881
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 9,163,000
- 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).
The missing mint mark, explained
Look for a letter and you will not find one. The 1881 Morgan Dollar is a Philadelphia product, and the main mint did not sign its work at this time. On branch-mint examples the mark sits on the reverse, just below the wreath bow and above the letters DO in DOLLAR.
What makes the 1881 Morgan Dollar valuable
The generous mintage of 9,163,000 keeps this date affordable. That availability is an asset for collectors: it is the textbook choice for owning the Morgan Dollar design without a key-date price tag.
The 90% silver composition gives a 1881 Morgan Dollar 0.7734 oz of precious metal ($28.23 at current spot). Bullion demand alone supports the bottom of its price range.
Context adds the final layer to the 1881 Morgan Dollar. Hundreds of millions sat in Treasury vaults for decades, which is why many dates survive in gem Mint State, while issues that actually circulated, such as the 1893-S and 1889-CC, became celebrated rarities. Owning this date means owning a piece of that story, and demand for the series as a whole sustains liquidity for every issue in it.
1881 Morgan Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
******* E.PLURIBUS.UNUM ****** 1881
Liberty, head l.
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/* ONE DOLLAR *
eagle standing. on arrows and laurel sprig., within wreath. motto above
Measured 1881 Morgan Dollar specimens
7 physically measured 1881 Morgan Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 26.73 g, 38.1 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1881 Morgan Dollar #1 | - | - | - | Breen.5557 |
| 1881 Morgan Dollar #2 | - | - | - | Breen.5563 |
| 1881 Morgan Dollar #3 | - | - | - | Breen.5559 |
| 1881 Morgan Dollar #4 | - | - | - | Breen.5562 |
| 1881 Morgan Dollar #5 | - | - | - | Breen.5557 |
| 1881 Morgan Dollar #6 | - | 38 mm | - | Breen.5559 |
| 1881 Morgan Dollar #7 | - | - | - | Krause.1084, Breen.5561 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1881 Morgan Dollar is valued between $29.00 and $282 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.