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A coin from 1878 is older than you and me. With age comes great value.
How much is a 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar worth? About that, as well as 1878 dollars’ varieties and history, see in this article.
Are you sure that it’s an actual Morgan Silver Dollar 1878 in your collection? Online coin identifier can tell for sure.
1878 Silver Dollar Design
The 1878 Liberty Silver Dollar uses the icon design of Lady Liberty. Anna Willess Williams, a Philadelphia school teacher, modeled for the dollar’s portrait.
Observe: Lady Liberty’s portrait in Phrygian hat. Thirteen stars representing the original colonies encircle her. Inscriptions “E PLURIBUS UNUM” are above Liberty’s head. The year "1878" is at the bottom.
Reverse: An eagle with its wings spread. Between the eagle's wings is the inscription “IN GOD WE TRUST”. The designer, George T. Morgan, left his initials on the reverse. His “M” appears on the ribbon’s left loop. The part below is decorated with a wreath. You can find Mintmarks (O, S, D, and CC) just below the wreath. The words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” encircle the upper part, and the words “ONE DOLLAR”, the lower.
1878 Silver Dollar Overview
The main characteristics of the 1878 Silver Dollar | |
Country | United States |
Years of Minting | 1878-1921 |
Type: | Standard circulation |
Edge | Reeded |
Shape: | Round |
Composition and metal content | 90% Silver, 10% Copper |
Diameter | 38.1 mm |
Weight | 26.73 grams |
The Mints | The Philadelphia Mint, The New Orleans Mint, The San Francisco Mint, The Carson City Mint |
Fun fact: The reverse depicts an eagle. Some people found the eagle too skinny and pitiful. That is why some tried to vilify the coin as a “Buzzard Dollar.”
History Of The Silver Dollar
Congress was pressured into issuing silver dollars by the representatives of the silver-mining industry. Mainly by Richard Bland, nicknamed “Silver Dick”.
In 1877, the Treasury began preparing designs for a new dollar coin. George T. Morgan decided to take part in the design competition.
George Morgan wins the design competition, and his work is used for the engraving.
After the production had already started, the Mints couldn’t decide whether to use 8-feather or 7-feather versions.
When the 1878 dollar was no longer minted, Numismatics resurfaced as a hobby. People started collecting these dollars.
1878 Silver Dollar Mint Varieties
This dollar is unique because it has varieties according to two characteristics: according to the mint mark and according to the feather number.
Let’s start with more conventional mint marks. There are:
Philadelphia (no mint mark) variety.
San Francisco (S) marks variety.
Carson City (CC) marks variety.
Later down the line, the New Orleans mint also introduced their O-marks, but later, in 1879. Denver Mint’s “D” marks came only in 1921.
All varieties are worth 1878 silver dollar value chart, just some of them offer more value.
1878 Dollar No Mint Mark Value
Look for: A blank place under the wreath.
Mintage: 9,759,300 + 749,500 = 10,508,000
Price: $50–$80 range. 1878 Silver Dollar value no mint mark is quite high.
You might have noticed that the mintage number is a sum of two other numbers. The thing is, the Philadelphia release has two subtypes. Each had a different mintage.
Strong VS Weak No Mint Marks
To make this even more confusing, the first mintage in Philadelphia had two subtypes: strong and weak.
Characteristic | Strong Strike | Weak Strike |
Details | Clear, crisp details. | Softer features or missing detail. |
The Eagle | Full feather detail on the eagle's breast and tail. | Flat eagle breast (common in early Morgans). |
Lady Liberty | Liberty’s hair and ear sharply defined. | Liberty’s hairline is less distinct. |
Technology | Usually struck with higher pressure or newer dies. | Occurs due to worn dies or lower pressure striking. |
Is the 1878 silver dollar rare? Yeah, the weak type is technically rarer. Yet it’s not as valuable. The reason is quality.
Weak pieces are generally less desirable for collectors. Their details are less pronounced, and the coin in general is not so pretty.
Price: Strong in circulated condition is worth between $41.50 and $260. Weak in circulated condition is worth between $41.50 and $150.
1878 S Morgan Silver Dollar Value
Look for: A little “S” mark under the wreath.
Mintage: 9,774,000
Price: $41–$80 range. 1878-S Morgan silver dollar value is a bit lower than P-dollars.
1878 CC Morgan Silver Dollar Value
Look for: A little “СС” mark under the wreath.
Mintage: 2,212,000
Price: $140 and $435 range. 1878 CC Silver Dollar value is the highest among its counterparts. The main reason is a lower mintage.
Be careful! Fraudsters also found the 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar CC valuable and started making fake ones.
To identify 1878-CC Morgan Silver Dollar fake, try to put one on a scale. The real deal is heavy, 26.73 grams. Fake 1878 Carson City silver dollar is usually lighter and has various defects on the rim area.
1878 Silver Dollar Feather Varieties
Soon after production began, the Mint had second thoughts about the tail feathers number.
They decided that the eagle should have seven tail feathers, instead of the original eight. Now, some 1878 Morgan dollars have eight feathers, and some have seven.
The 1878 Morgan Dollar has several notable varieties due to early design modifications:
8 Tail Feathers: The first version released had an eagle with 8 tail feathers.
7 Tail Feathers: Revised to 7 feathers. It may come in Strong and Weak variants.
1878 8tf Morgan Silver Dollar Value
Look for: Seven tail feathers on the reverse. Has no mint mark, as only Philadelphia produced this first batch.
Mintage: 749,500
Price: $44 and $105 range.
The 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar 8 tail feathers was the first version of this coin.
1878 Morgan Silver Dollar 7 Tail Feathers Value
Look for: Eight tail feathers on the reverse. Might have no Mint Mark or S/CC-marks.
Mintage: 9,759,300
Price: $42 and $190 range.
The seven-tailed version was adopted later by every mint facility. 1878 Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar and San Francisco versions have seven feathers.
Dollar Grading
You might think it will be hard trying to grade all these different varieties.
Gladly, coin grading is easier than it seems. The main rule is, the better the details are preserved, the higher the price.
Grade | Label | Description |
AG-3 | About Good | Major features are visible, heavy wear; rim merges with the lettering. |
G-4/G-6 | Good | Liberty and eagle are seen as outlines; no detail; rims mostly intact. |
VG-8/VG-10 | Very Good | More detail in hair and wings; still heavy wear. |
F-12/F-15 | Fine | Liberty's ear and feathers are visible but worn. |
VF-20 to VF-35 | Very Fine | Liberty's hair and eagle feathers have noticeable detail; moderate wear. |
EF/XF-40 to 45 | Extremely Fine | Nearly all design is visible; minor wear on high points like Liberty’s cheek and eagle’s chest. |
AU-50 to AU-58 | About Uncirculated | Only slight wear on highest points; luster nearly full. AU-58 is just shy of Mint State. |
MS-60 to MS-70 | Mint State (Uncirculated) | No wear; full mint luster. MS-70 is theoretical perfection. |
The value of a 1878 Silver Dollar depends so much on its grade.
Grading Tips
Some tips to help you if you want to grade your piece yourself:
Use a 5x–10x loupe and natural light.
Compare with PCGS Photograde or ANA Grading Standards.
For high-value coins, certified grading (PCGS, NGC) is strongly recommended.
Prooflike (PL) and Deep Mirror Prooflike (DMPL) coins are noted separately due to their reflective surfaces and carry premiums.
1878 Silver Dollar Value Chart
Variety | G-4 | VG-8 | F-12 | VF-20 | EF-40 | AU-50 | MS-60 | MS-65 | Proof |
P-mark (8tf) | $106 | $114 | $117 | $126 | $137 | $161 | $409 | $2,485 | $4,903 |
P-mark (7tf) | $52 | $58 | $64 | $71 | $74 | $87 | $199 | $1,130 | $6,770 |
S-mark | $52 | $58 | $64 | $71 | $71 | $74 | $95 | $508 | - |
CC-mark | $220 | $230 | $236 | $238 | $324 | $387 | $593 | $934 | - |
Now you know the answer to the question: How much is an 1878 silver dollar worth? Hopefully, this table offered some help.
1878 Carson City Morgan Silver Dollar value is the highest across most grades.
Buying Guide
This guide will be a good help if you’re looking for a 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar for sale anytime soon.
These tips work for buying lower-value pieces, as well as expensive pieces. Like one pound 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar proof.
Know What You're Buying. Note the key varieties of whatever you’re buying. Design feathers, dates, and mint marks.
Buy Certified Coins (When Possible). Stick to coins graded by PCGS or NGC. These are industry-standard services. Be wary of fakers.
Grade Is Everything. The higher the grade, the more it’s worth. Strike quality, luster, and eye appeal matter, not just technical wear.
Understand PL / DMPL Premiums. PL (Prooflike) and DMPL (Deep Mirror Prooflike) are different. The latter one is more desirable. Look for the “PL” or “DMPL” designation on graded coins if you're targeting high-end pieces.
Watch for Cleaning or Damage. Cleaned coins lose value. They often look unnaturally shiny and have scratches.
Buy the Coin, Not the Holder. Some good dealers may offer beautiful packaging, but it shouldn’t be the main reason to buy a piece. Focus on eye appeal and authenticity over the packaging.
Buy from trusted sources. Reputable coin dealers, coin shows and auctions.
One more tool that can provide you with guidance is the Coin-scanner app.
Coin ID Scanner
This free app will scan your coin in a flash.
Just take a photo, and in a few seconds, the Coin ID Scanner will tell you the coin’s origin, denomination, and market value.
Blogs and the AI-assistant will provide you with the latest market data if you want to sell or buy a piece.
Finally, the app comes with a digital collection. You can store your Morgan silver dollar collection 1878 to 1921 there and compare it with other collections.
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