4/1/2022

1885 Morgan Silver Dollar

  • 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar
1885 Morgan Silver Dollar
Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez

1885 Engraver: George T. Morgan George T. Morgan was an English United States Mint engraver, who is famous for designing many popular coins, such. USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1885-CC Morgan Silver Dollar is Worth $492 in Average Condition and can be Worth $755 to $1,176 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition. Click here to Learn How to use Coin Price Charts. Also, click here to Learn About Grading Coins. The Melt Value shown below is how Valuable the Coin's Metal is Worth (bare.

Coin Info

1885-P MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR MONSTER PURPLE NEON COLOR TONED SELECT BU UNC (MR) $199.99. $399.99 previous price $399.99 + $3.50 shipping. Choice BU+ 1885-O Morgan Silver Dollar Near Gem New Orleans Mint Coin (61620) $99.99. Report item - opens in a new window or tab. Sep 12, 2019 The New Orleans Mint struck over 9 million Morgan Dollars in 1885. However, many of those did not circulate, but instead sat in Treasury vaults until the 1960's. Many uncirculated bags were released in the 1960's, making this issue one of the most common in high grade. Type: Morgan Silver Dollar Year: 1885 Mint Mark: No mint mark Face Value: 1.00 USD Total Produced: 17,787,000 Silver Content: 90% Silver Weight.7735 oz. Silver Melt: $20.68 Value: As a rough estimate of this coins value you can assume this coin in average condition will be valued at somewhere around $30, while one in certified mint state (MS+) condition could bring as much as $150 at auction.

$21.09
United States
Silver Coin
0.77344 t oz
$1 USD
28,697,930
U.S. Mint
1885

For Morgan Silver Dollar collectors, 1885 was a quiet year – there are no major attributed die varieties, and only the Carson City issue, as usual for the Morgan Dollar series, presents any significant challenge. Collectors who pursue the many VAM (Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis) varieties may find several die variations to pursue from 1885. However, the only significantly difficult target for the typical Morgan collector seeking 1885-dated dollar coins is the Carson City issue – which today is scarcer than most of the preceding CC-mint Morgan Dollar issues, as you will notice in the list below.

The 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar was produced in four mints: Carson City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. The most valuable 1885 Morgan Silver Dollar carries the 'CC' mintmark used by the Carson City Mint. It always carries a premium value because of very low production, making it the rarest 1885 Morgan Dollar. The New Orleans Mint used an 'O' and the San Francisco Mint an 'S”. The main mint in Philadelphia did not use a mintmark. Proof examples of Morgan Dollars from all years, including 1885, are rare which makes them expensive.

Chart

1885 Morgan Silver Dollar Mintage Figures

  • 1885: 17,787,000; $35+
  • 1885-CC: 228,000; $550+
  • 1885-O: 9,185,000; $35+
  • 1885-S: 1,497,000; $50+
  • 1885 Proof: 930; $3,000+

While mintage numbers may seem high enough to suggest that a sufficient number of Morgan Dollars exist from that year, bear in mind that the Pittman Act of 1918 instigated the melting of more than 270 million Morgan Silver Dollars, which effectively means far fewer Morgan Dollars exist today than are reflected in mintage figures. Even when you are purchasing the most “common” Morgan Dollars, such as the 1885 Morgan Dollar, do your best to buy the highest quality you can afford, because when the time comes to sell, your coins will generate more excitement among buyers and could help you gain a better return on your dollar.


Other Years From This Coin Series

Latest Blog Posts

Latest Blog Posts

The 1885 morgan dollar did get his name from the designer, George T. Morgan. Morgan dollars were made from 1878 to 1921 and some years are very scarce, difficult to find and expensive to buy, mostly on auctions. The year 1885 is not even so special in this matter as there are many authentic 1885 morgan silver dollars in circulation but still, they are making in China counterfeit coins with this date.

Some 1885 morgan silver dollar coin facts.

  • Mintage: Circulation strikes: 17,787,000 / Proofs: 930.
  • Designer: George T. Morgan.
  • Diameter: 38.1 mm.
  • Composition: Silver (90%) and Copper (10%).
  • Weight: 26.73 grams.
  • Edge: Reeded.
  • Mintmark: None.


Here below are the images from an authentic and a counterfeit morgan silver dollar coin, both showing the year 1885.

Counterfeit 1885 Morgan Dollar – Obverse

When comparing both 1885 morgan dollar coins the following differences are easy to see on the counterfeit coin and not on the authentic coin.

  • The numbers are not identical, note the one and five especially.
  • The letters are not exactly the same, but sometimes too hard to notice.
  • The stars are too big and too flat compared with the authentic coin.
  • In general soft details and slick surfaces.

Authentic 1885 Morgan Dollar – Reverse

Counterfeit 1885 Morgan Dollar – Reverse

1921 Morgan Silver Dollar

The reverse side of the counterfeit morgan coin we did use for this example was having, of course, the same soft details as the obverse side and in general, this is the easy way to recognize a Chinese counterfeit coin.

1885 Morgan Silver Dollar Value

Share