1899 Silver Dollar Coin Value: How Much Is It Worth?
Do you have an 1899 silver dollar in your possession? If so, what is the 1899 silver dollar value? These coins are quite rare and valuable, and there is a lot of interest in them.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at these coins and discuss not only their history, but also their features and their value. We will also explore some of the possible error coins that were produced in this year. So if you’re curious about the 1899 silver dollar value, keep reading to learn all the good stuff!
1899 Silver Dollar Value Chart |
||||
| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1899 No Mark Silver Dollar | $176 | $195 | $234 | $308-$1062 |
| 1899 O Silver Dollar | $27 | $39 | $48 | $61-$223 |
| 1899 S Silver Dollar | $41 | $52 | $72 | $425-$2,403 |
| 1899 Silver Dollar Proof | / | / | / | $3,221 |
Value of the 1899 Silver Dollar
When it comes to 1899 silver dollar value, it all depends on the condition of the coin. Coins in good condition are worth a great deal, but those that are in pristine condition, where they do not show any signs of wear and tear, are worth a lot! The amount may just surprise you.
The condition of the coin can be graded on a scale of 1 to 70. A grade of 1 means that it is heavily worn and not worth much at all, while coins graded at 70 are considered perfect and are some of the most valuable coins out there. It is nearly impossible to find an 1899 silver dollar in perfect condition, but those that are close can be worth a pretty penny!
Another way to categorize the graded scale for coins is with four main categories: Good, Fine, Extremely Fine, and Uncirculated. Let’s look at the 1899 silver dollar by US Mint location and what their average value is for each grade. We will also look at how many coins were produced at each mint location and how that affects the value.
1899 “No Mint Mark” Silver Dollar Value
This coin was issued by the Philadelphia Mint, and the interesting thing is that only 330,846 of these coins were produced. That is extremely rare!
Right off the bat, for an 1899 “no mint mark” silver dollar in Good condition, the value can be $176! Not bad for a coin with a face value of one dollar.
For those in Fine condition, they can fetch up to $195 or more. Extremely Fine specimens are worth around $234, and coins graded as Uncirculated can be worth up anywhere from $308 to $1,062 or even more. In fact, one such pristine silver dollar sold at auction for almost $13,000!
1899 “O” Silver Dollar Value
Produced at the New Orleans Mint, this coin is way more common than the “no mint mark” variety, having minted about 12,290,000 pieces. As a result, 1899 “O” silver dollars in Good condition have an average value of around $27. Those graded as Fine may be worth $39, Extremely Fine coins can be worth up to $48 or more, and Uncirculated coins are worth between $61 and $223!
1899 “S” Silver Dollar Value
This coin was minted at the San Francisco Mint and has an estimated mintage of approximately 2,562,000 pieces.
The 1899 silver dollar value for this variety in Good condition is around $41 or so. Those in Fine grade may fetch around $52 or higher, while those graded as Extremely Fine can be valued up to $72. Uncirculated coins are worth even more and have been known to fetch from $425 to over $2,403!
Interestingly, a near-perfect “S” silver dollar sold for around $37,000 at auction, so you just never know!
1899 Proof Silver Dollar Value
The 1899 silver dollar also exists in Proof format, which is struck with specially polished dies to create a mirror-like finish. In 1899, the US Mint only produced 846 Proof coins of the silver dollar, making them extremely rare.
If you are lucky enough to have one of these coins, they can be worth even more than the Uncirculated coins! Proofs graded high may bring in upwards of $3,221 or more. One in perfect condition even sold for an astonishing $144,000!
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1899 Silver Dollar Error Coins
No 1899 silver dollar article is complete without mentioning error coins!
It turns out that not every coin from this series was minted perfectly. Some of these coins were minted with errors. While errors aren’t as common as regular specimens, they can still be found in circulation.
Error coins usually have something wrong with their obverse and/or reverse sides, such as double strikes or cracks in the design. If you’re able to find one of these error coins, they can be worth quite a lot, especially if the condition of the coin is nearly pristine! Ultimately, it all depends on that, and on the severity of the error.
There are some rare and valuable error coins that can be found from 1899 silver dollar mintage. Let’s look at a few that have sold recently at auction.
1899 Silver Dollar with Micro-O Mint Mark Error
This coin features an error where the “O” mint mark is so small that it’s barely visible. A coin with this error (as well as a broad strike error) recently sold at auction for $515! Not too shabby.
Or, even more impressive, is another 1899 silver dollar with the same micro O error – it was in near-mint condition, so it sold at auction for a whopping $50,000!
1899 Silver Dollar with Die Adjustment Strike Error
Another rare 1899 silver dollar error is the “die adjustment strike”, which is where the coin is struck by a die beneath the optimum pressure. This results in a coin with a very weak design stamped into it. A silver dollar with this error sold at auction for over $730!
1899 Silver Dollar with Off-Center Error
Lastly, another error you might find is an off-center strike. As the name suggests, this coin is missing part of its design due to being struck off-center. A 1899 silver dollar with this particular error sold for $2,700 recently!
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History of the 1899 Silver Dollar
The 1899 silver dollar was part of the Morgan series of silver dollars. They were minted between 1878 and 1904, then again in 1921, and lastly in 2021. The 1899 silver dollar is a rare coin, and it has a high value among collectors.
These beautiful coins were named after George T. Morgan, their designer. George T. Morgan was an English engraver who originally worked for the British Royal Mint. However, the US Mint was looking for a promising new employee, and they recruited George T. Morgan to the United States because of his incredible talent.
When he immigrated to the United States of America, he settled in the mid Atlantic region of the nation’s northeast and became the US Mint’s seventh chief engraver. He did a fabulous job creating multiple coins and medal designs over the course of his career. He is considered to be one of the most skilled coin designers in US history – his coins are highly sought after by collectors, and some specimens have been known to sell for thousands at auction!
The opportunity for producing silver dollars came at just the right time. Three years earlier in 1876, the United States experienced a silver rush as people flocked to mining camps in search of wealth.
The silver rush located in Nevada was one of the richest silver strikes in history, and it sparked a frenzy among prospectors and miners. People left their homes and families in search of riches, and many (but not all) were successful in finding wealth beyond their wildest dreams. Despite the risks involved, the lure of easy money was too strong for many people to resist, and they packed up their belongings and headed westward in search of fortune.
The US government took advantage of the silver rush too. They saw the silver rush as a way to generate an influx of revenue for the nation. Not only that, but in 1890, Congress passed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, which required the US Treasury Department to purchase millions of ounces of silver each month from mining companies and mint those ounces into silver coins and back paper currency.
As you can see, in 1878, Morgan’s design was chosen as a suitable choice to be minted on silver dollars. The US Mint was so impressed with his work that they struck a whole bunch of these silver dollars over the years in various locations, including Philadelphia, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Carson City.
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How to Identify the 1899 Silver Dollar?
The Morgan silver dollar has many distinctive features that make it stand out from other coins. Let’s take a closer look at the obverse and reverse side of the 1899 silver dollar, as well as some of its other interesting features.
The Obverse of the 1899 Silver Dollar
The obverse side of the coin (which means the front side of the coin) features a profile portrait of Lady Liberty, facing right with her head adorned in a Phrygian cap and wreath of fruit and foliage.
The Phrygian cap is a cap of ancient Rome and has become known as a symbol of liberty. It is even sometimes referred to as a “liberty cap.” Similarly, the wreath of fruit and foliage can be seen as a symbol for abundance.
Above Lady Liberty’s head, you will find the words “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” which means “Out of Many, One,” and the year of mintage is inscribed at the base of the coin beneath her flowing hair. Around both the left and right sides of the obverse, you will find a total of 13 stars, signifying America’s original thirteen colonies.
The Reverse of the 1899 Silver Dollar
On the reverse side of the coin, you will find a majestic bald eagle with wings outstretched and its talons clutching an olive branch, as well as a group of arrows. It is well known that the use of an olive branch signifies peace, and additionally, arrows can symbolize strength. These are very “American” values that the nation holds dear.
As we mentioned before, this image was designed by George T. Morgan himself. It has gone on to become one of America’s most iconic pieces of imagery.
Above the eagle, there is an inscription that reads “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” and directly under it (but still above the eagle) is the phrase, “IN GOD WE TRUST.” Below the bird is a half-circle wreath, and then at the bottom center of the coin is the inscription, “ONE DOLLAR.” If there is a mint mark, you will find it at the bottom center as well.
Other Features of the 1899 Silver Dollar
Now that we’ve looked at the obverse and reverse side of the 1899 silver dollar, let’s review some more interesting aspects of this coin, such as its metal composition, its mint marks and their locations, and the coin’s size and weight.
Metal Composition
The 1899 silver dollar is made up of 90% silver, with the remaining 10% being copper.
Mint Marks
If there is a mint mark present on your 1899 silver dollar, you will find it just below the half wreath on the reverse side of the coin. There are three possible mint marks for the 1899 silver dollar that may appear here: “S” for San Francisco, “O” for New Orleans, or no mint mark at all (which means it was struck in Philadelphia).
Size and Weight
The 1899 silver dollar has a diameter of 38.1 millimeters and a thickness of 2.4 millimeters. It has a total weight of 26.73 grams.
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Where Can I Find an 1899 Silver Dollar?
The best way to find an 1899 silver dollar is to search online auction sites or contact a local coin dealer. It’s also possible to find one in circulation if you’re lucky enough, though the chances are very slim.
Are All 1899 Silver Dollars Rare?
No, not all 1899 silver dollars are rare. The “no mint mark” variety is the most rare, but all the other 1899 silver dollars are relatively common. Still, they can still be quite valuable depending on their condition!
Conclusion
As you can see, the 1899 silver dollar is a rare and valuable coin that is highly sought after by collectors. With so many varieties, it’s no wonder that these coins are popular with coin enthusiasts. So if you come across one, make sure to hold on to it – you never know what kind of value it may have!
Do you have a 1899 silver dollar that you want to value? Contact an experienced numismatist today to get an accurate appraisal of your coin, and let us know about the experience in the comments below!