The 1880 Morgan dollar is a key piece in U.S. coinage history, struck in large numbers across Philadelphia, Carson City, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Its wide variety of mintmarks and die variations make it especially attractive to collectors.
The 1880-CC (Carson City) Morgan Silver Dollar is the most sought-after version. The CC mintmark and its low mintage contribute to its rarity, especially in higher grades.
Coins with Prooflike (PL) and Deep Mirror Prooflike (DMPL) finishes — meaning they look almost like mirrors — are incredibly desirable and command massive premiums at auction.
Several overdate varieties exist, like the 1880/79-CC, where the 9 is still visible under the 0. These varieties are highly prized, especially when in superb condition.
An 1880-CC Morgan Silver Dollar graded MS68 DMPL (Mint State 68 with Deep Mirror Prooflike surfaces) sold at auction for $162,000 — setting a record for this year and mintmark.
While circulated examples are worth hundreds, mint-state coins — especially MS66, MS67, and MS68 grades — are incredibly rare and can fetch tens of thousands to over $100,000, depending on eye appeal.
Because of the high value, many fake or altered 1880 Morgan dollars exist. It’s crucial to buy only graded examples from trusted sources like PCGS or NGC.