1879 United States Dollar Value
In the current market, a 1879 United States Dollar changes hands for roughly $14.84 at the low end and $160 at the top, and its metal content alone is worth $14.84 as of 2026-06-01 Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.
Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.
Melt estimated at the US 0.900 silver standard.
1879 United States Dollar value by grade
| Grade | Estimated value |
|---|---|
| Melt value floor(metal content, 2026-06-01) | $14.84 |
| Good (G-4) | $14.84 to $17.81 |
| Very Good (VG-8) | $14.84 to $18.34 |
| Fine (F-12) | $14.84 to $19.23 |
| Very Fine (VF-20) | $14.84 to $20.48 |
| Extremely Fine (XF-40) | $16.40 to $23.15 |
| About Uncirculated (AU-50) | $20.18 to $28.49 |
| Mint State (MS-60) | $27.75 to $39.18 |
| Choice Unc (MS-63) | $44.15 to $62.32 |
| Gem Unc (MS-65) | $114 to $160 |
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 the 1879 United States Dollar selling for today?
In worn but collectible condition (Good-4), a 1879 United States Dollar starts around $14.84. From there, value climbs with every grade step: a gem Mint State example (MS-65) can reach $160. Most coins found in old collections fall somewhere between Very Fine and About Uncirculated, the middle rows of the table above.
1879 United States Dollar specifications
- Series
- United States Coinage
- Year
- 1879
- Mint mark
- None (Philadelphia)
- Mintage
- Not recorded
- Composition
- Silver
- Weight
- 14.05 g
- Diameter
- 33 mm
- Silver content
- 0.40655 troy oz
The missing mint mark, explained
The 1879 United States Dollar was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, which used no mint mark in this era. If you find no letter where branch-mint coins carry one (check the usual position for this series), you are holding a Philadelphia issue.
What makes the 1879 United States Dollar valuable
For the 1879 United States Dollar, surviving examples tell the story that mint records do not. Museum-documented specimens define the issue for collectors.
Every 1879 United States Dollar contains 0.4066 troy ounces of pure silver, currently worth $14.84. That intrinsic value is a hard floor under the price: no matter how worn the coin, the silver inside cannot be graded away.
Context adds the final layer to the 1879 United States Dollar. Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. 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.
1879 United States Dollar inscriptions & design
Obverse
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
head of Liberty l. wearing bonnet
Reverse
1 / DOLLAR/ 1879 in 3 lines
wreath of corn stalks, value within
Measured 1879 United States Dollar specimens
11 physically measured 1879 United States Dollar examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 14.05 g, 33 mm minting standard.
| Specimen | Weight | Diameter | Die axis | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1879 United States Dollar #1 | 24.89 g | 36 mm | 6 h | Judd.1617, Pollock.1813 |
| 1879 United States Dollar #2 | 14.03 g | 33 mm | 6 h | Judd.1627, Adams.Woodin.1606, Pollock.1823 |
| 1879 United States Dollar #3 | 1.65 g | 14.75 mm | - | Friedberg.USA.94, Breen.6100 |
| 1879 United States Dollar #4 | 14.01 g | 33 mm | 6 h | Judd.1626, Pollock.1822 |
| 1879 United States Dollar #5 | 24.91 g | 36 mm | 6 h | Judd.1617, Pollock.1813 |
| 1879 United States Dollar #6 | 14.07 g | 33 mm | 6 h | Judd.1627, Adams.Woodin.1606, Pollock.1823 |
| 1879 United States Dollar #7 | 14.05 g | 33 mm | 6 h | Judd.1631, Adams.Woodin.1610, Pollock.1828 |
| 1879 United States Dollar #8 | - | - | - | Judd.1608, Pollock.1804, Adams.Woodin.1592 |
| 1879 United States Dollar #9 | - | - | - | Judd.1603, Pollock.1798, Adams.Woodin.1590 |
| 1879 United States Dollar #10 | - | - | - | Judd.1605, Pollock.1801, Adams.Woodin.1595 |
| 1879 United States Dollar #11 | - | - | - | Judd.1613, Pollock.1809, Adams.Woodin.1586 |
Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.
Summary: the 1879 United States Dollar is valued between $14.84 and $160 as of 2026-06-15. Estimates combine mintage rarity, key-date status and metal content; they are editorial guidance, not an offer to buy.