1885 Morgan Dollar Value
A 1885 Morgan Dollar is worth roughly $29.00 to $282 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.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
1885 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.
How much is a 1885 Morgan Dollar worth today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1885 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.
1885 Morgan Dollar specifications
- Series
- Morgan Dollar
- Year
- 1885
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- 17,787,000
- 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).
Why this coin has no mint mark
Philadelphia struck the 1885 Morgan Dollar, and Philadelphia coins of this period carry no mint mark at all. An empty space at the usual mint mark position (On the reverse, just below the wreath bow and above the letters DO in DOLLAR) confirms a Philadelphia strike, not a flaw.
What makes the 1885 Morgan Dollar valuable
With 17,787,000 struck, the 1885 Morgan Dollar is one of the more available dates of its series. Its value rests on metal content and condition rather than absolute rarity, which makes it an ideal type coin.
Beneath the numismatics of the 1885 Morgan Dollar sits 0.7734 troy ounces of silver, $28.23 worth at today's spot price. When silver rallies, even the most common dates of this series rise with it.
Context adds the final layer to the 1885 Morgan Dollar. The Morgan dollar is the most collected classic United States coin, struck from 1878 to 1904 and once more in 1921. 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.
1885 Morgan Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
******* E.PLURIBUS.UNUM ****** 1885
Liberty, head l.
Reverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/* ONE DOLLAR *
eagle standing. on arrows and laurel sprig., within wreath. motto above
Measured 1885 Morgan Dollar specimens
6 physically measured 1885 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 Morgan Dollar #1 | - | - | - | Breen.5581 |
| 1885 Morgan Dollar #2 | - | - | - | Breen.5583 |
| 1885 Morgan Dollar #3 | - | - | - | Breen.5584 |
| 1885 Morgan Dollar #4 | - | - | - | Breen.5581 |
| 1885 Morgan Dollar #5 | - | 38 mm | - | Breen.5583 |
| 1885 Morgan Dollar #6 | - | - | - | Krause.1084, Breen.5585 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1885 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.