Price Guide for 1881 Dollar Variants
This guide presents price ranges for variants from three sources: eBay sales, third-party auctions, and PCGS guides. Values are shown for various conditions, allowing collectors to compare across different market segments. Price estimates may vary between sources, especially for rarer variants.
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $14.00 – $5,500.00Uncirculated: $3.00 – $48,875.00
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eBayCirculated: $19.57 – $295.00Uncirculated: $1.00 – $14,500.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $30.00 – $70.00Uncirculated: $75.00 – $165,000.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $20.00 – $3,200.00Uncirculated: $22.00 – $28,200.00
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eBayCirculated: $5.00 – $425.00Uncirculated: $29.78 – $4,987.49
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $30.00 – $70.00Uncirculated: $75.00 – $60,000.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $5.50 – $5,000.00Uncirculated: $160.00 – $67,562.50
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eBayCirculated: $137.50 – $1,380.00Uncirculated: $67.72 – $10,350.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $250.00 – $585.00Uncirculated: $600.00 – $65,000.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $15.00 – $16,000.00Uncirculated: $20.00 – $39,950.00
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eBayCirculated: $18.50 – $599.00Uncirculated: $5.00 – $5,794.03
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $32.00 – $73.00Uncirculated: $75.00 – $75,000.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $170.00 – $1,700.00Uncirculated: $66.00 – $40,250.00
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eBayUncirculated: $82.00 – $2,750.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $160.00 – $40,000.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $374.00 – $9,694.00Uncirculated: $4.20 – $83,950.00
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eBayCirculated: $647.00 – $1,949.99Uncirculated: $96.07 – $12,617.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $1,050.00 – $1,800.00Uncirculated: $2,550.00 – $85,000.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $44.65 – $94.00Uncirculated: $48.00 – $9,988.00
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eBayCirculated: $35.01 – $61.00Uncirculated: $39.01 – $1,133.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $140.00 – $17,500.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $2,400.00 – $15,000.00Uncirculated: $230.00 – $228,000.00
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eBayUncirculated: $493.00 – $6,125.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $675.00 – $52,500.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $950.00 – $8,000.00Uncirculated: $31.00 – $23,500.00
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eBayCirculated: $46.00 – $95.00Uncirculated: $0.99 – $6,872.52
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $110.00 – $9,000.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $376.00 – $19,387.50
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eBayCirculated: $80.10Uncirculated: $89.95 – $4,150.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $411.00 – $2,900.00Uncirculated: $236.00 – $9,000.00
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eBayUncirculated: $430.00 – $3,360.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $600.00 – $11,250.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $747.00 – $13,718.00Uncirculated: $5.75 – $39,100.00
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eBayCirculated: $1,401.00 – $1,413.00Uncirculated: $1,350.00 – $3,827.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $1,050.00 – $2,350.00Uncirculated: $2,600.00 – $26,000.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $6,325.00Uncirculated: $1,485.00 – $80,500.00
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eBayUncirculated: $2,225.00 – $4,050.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $2,800.00 – $120,000.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $3,450.00 – $51,750.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $3,100.00 – $140,000.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $41.00 – $6,000.00
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eBayUncirculated: $57.00 – $7,695.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $140.00 – $5,250.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $74.00 – $26,400.00
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eBayUncirculated: $83.00 – $2,042.49
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $315.00 – $32,500.00
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eBayCirculated: $82.40Uncirculated: $34.40 – $875.00
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eBayUncirculated: $45.00 – $85.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $840.00
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eBayUncirculated: $175.00 – $1,450.00
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eBayUncirculated: $120.00 – $550.00
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eBayCirculated: $441.75 – $690.00Uncirculated: $204.50 – $207.50
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eBayUncirculated: $90.00 – $283.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $72.00
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eBayUncirculated: $520.00 – $899.00
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eBayUncirculated: $24.50 – $93.92
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eBayCirculated: $26.78 – $64.50
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eBayUncirculated: $549.99
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eBayUncirculated: $54.99
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eBayUncirculated: $58.40 – $395.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $32.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $456.00 – $2,640.00
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eBayUncirculated: $430.00 – $3,400.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $576.00 – $11,750.00
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eBayUncirculated: $549.95 – $2,100.00
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eBayUncirculated: $535.00 – $1,121.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $456.00 – $10,920.00
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eBayUncirculated: $455.05 – $1,675.00
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eBayUncirculated: $321.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $660.00 – $2,160.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $780.00 – $4,012.00
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eBayCirculated: $119.50 – $399.95Uncirculated: $1,527.02
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $1,800.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $2,596.00 – $3,240.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $960.00 – $1,140.00
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eBayCirculated: $208.05Uncirculated: $804.51 – $1,250.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $3,120.00
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eBayCirculated: $274.00 – $325.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $1,000.00 – $1,700.00Uncirculated: $48.00 – $40,250.00
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eBayUncirculated: $107.95 – $7,800.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $235.00 – $18,500.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $55.00Uncirculated: $51.00 – $1,440.00
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eBayCirculated: $122.50Uncirculated: $86.00 – $2,561.50
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $40.00 – $41.00
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eBayCirculated: $53.00Uncirculated: $50.66 – $316.11
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eBayUncirculated: $96.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $149.00 – $282.00Uncirculated: $228.00 – $616.88
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eBayCirculated: $61.00 – $360.00Uncirculated: $61.00 – $1,250.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $70.00 – $220.00Uncirculated: $240.00 – $600.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $870.00 – $2,640.00
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eBayUncirculated: $200.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $1,680.00
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eBayUncirculated: $53.99
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eBayCirculated: $33.99 – $115.00Uncirculated: $51.76 – $275.00
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eBayCirculated: $36.55
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eBayUncirculated: $85.00 – $214.30
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eBayUncirculated: $1,450.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $65.00 – $110.00Uncirculated: $69.00 – $1,057.50
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eBayUncirculated: $85.00 – $925.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $110.00 – $559.00
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eBayUncirculated: $364.00 – $500.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $552.00 – $660.00
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eBayUncirculated: $850.00
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eBayCirculated: $18.20
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eBayCirculated: $48.00Uncirculated: $62.55
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eBayUncirculated: $52.00
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eBayUncirculated: $36.25 – $189.00
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eBayUncirculated: $60.00
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eBayUncirculated: $34.77
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eBayUncirculated: $33.00 – $61.03
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eBayCirculated: $28.77Uncirculated: $37.00
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eBayUncirculated: $275.00
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eBayUncirculated: $171.93
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eBayUncirculated: $155.50 – $200.00
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eBayUncirculated: $22.50
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eBayUncirculated: $55.00
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eBayCirculated: $36.35
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eBayUncirculated: $850.00
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eBayUncirculated: $48.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $100.00
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $63.00 – $329.00Uncirculated: $204.00 – $676.00
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eBayCirculated: $50.00 – $275.00Uncirculated: $150.00 – $5,750.00
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PCGS Price GuideCirculated: $50.00 – $265.00Uncirculated: $400.00 – $1,400.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $156.00 – $1,680.00
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eBayUncirculated: $35.00 – $13,900.00
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eBayUncirculated: $145.03 – $525.00
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eBayUncirculated: $49.00 – $450.00
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eBayUncirculated: $99.95 – $99.99
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eBayCirculated: $99.00 – $107.50Uncirculated: $49.00 – $2,500.00
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eBayUncirculated: $165.00 – $195.00
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eBayUncirculated: $49.00 – $550.00
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eBayUncirculated: $58.10 – $437.99
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eBayUncirculated: $61.00 – $570.00
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eBayUncirculated: $52.57 – $800.00
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eBayUncirculated: $154.50
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $180.00
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eBayUncirculated: $35.00 – $480.00
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eBayUncirculated: $43.88 – $800.00
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eBayUncirculated: $46.00
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eBayUncirculated: $269.00
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eBayUncirculated: $249.95
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eBayCirculated: $34.00Uncirculated: $49.00 – $1,275.00
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eBayUncirculated: $76.66
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eBayUncirculated: $58.00 – $130.00
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eBayUncirculated: $95.00
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eBayUncirculated: $90.00 – $296.96
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eBayUncirculated: $113.95
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eBayUncirculated: $72.50 – $212.50
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $75.90
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eBayUncirculated: $51.00 – $275.00
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eBayUncirculated: $156.51
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eBayUncirculated: $42.00 – $312.50
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eBayUncirculated: $57.00
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eBayUncirculated: $50.88 – $1,335.00
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eBayUncirculated: $64.02 – $112.50
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eBayUncirculated: $119.49
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eBayUncirculated: $129.10 – $220.00
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eBayUncirculated: $36.00 – $2,012.00
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eBayCirculated: $42.00Uncirculated: $44.00 – $1,375.00
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eBayUncirculated: $44.00 – $104.50
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $114.00 – $264.00
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eBayUncirculated: $44.00 – $95.00
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eBayUncirculated: $60.00
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eBayUncirculated: $86.10
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eBayUncirculated: $82.88 – $199.95
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eBayCirculated: $46.00 – $72.00Uncirculated: $58.80 – $266.00
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eBayUncirculated: $85.00 – $249.95
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eBayUncirculated: $80.00 – $99.99
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eBayUncirculated: $67.00 – $79.75
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3rd Party PriceCirculated: $969.00
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eBayUncirculated: $61.91 – $76.14
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eBayUncirculated: $97.00 – $189.00
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eBayUncirculated: $53.10 – $460.00
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eBayUncirculated: $224.70
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eBayUncirculated: $64.95 – $86.00
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eBayUncirculated: $45.09 – $85.00
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eBayUncirculated: $59.00 – $83.26
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eBayUncirculated: $42.51 – $97.00
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eBayUncirculated: $69.93 – $360.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $129.00
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eBayUncirculated: $96.00
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eBayUncirculated: $300.00
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eBayUncirculated: $74.00 – $451.00
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eBayUncirculated: $46.00
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eBayUncirculated: $87.97 – $890.00
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eBayCirculated: $45.44Uncirculated: $51.26 – $182.00
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eBayUncirculated: $61.00 – $102.50
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eBayUncirculated: $54.00 – $105.06
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eBayUncirculated: $70.00 – $168.50
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eBayUncirculated: $49.00 – $139.95
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eBayUncirculated: $62.00 – $175.00
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eBayUncirculated: $42.00 – $175.88
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eBayUncirculated: $55.55 – $304.00
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eBayUncirculated: $248.70
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eBayCirculated: $55.00Uncirculated: $48.00 – $95.99
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eBayUncirculated: $86.00 – $105.00
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eBayUncirculated: $104.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $470.00 – $1,080.00
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eBayUncirculated: $359.67 – $2,700.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $1,725.00 – $46,000.00
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eBayUncirculated: $2,300.00 – $28,300.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $2,850.00 – $110,000.00
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3rd Party PriceUncirculated: $29,081.25 – $105,000.00
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PCGS Price GuideUncirculated: $40,000.00 – $200,000.00
Design and Specifications of the 1881 Dollar
The 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar is part of the iconic Morgan Dollar series, which was minted from 1878 to 1904, and again in 1921. Named after its designer, George T. Morgan, this coin played a crucial role in American commerce and is highly regarded by collectors today.
The year 1881 saw continued production of Morgan Dollars across multiple mints, reflecting the ongoing implementation of the Bland-Allison Act of 1878, which required the Treasury to purchase large amounts of silver for coin production.
Weight | 26.73 grams |
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Diameter | 38.1 mm |
Mint Marks | None (Philadelphia), O (New Orleans), S (San Francisco), CC (Carson City) |
Composition | 90% silver, 10% copper |
Obverse Design | Liberty head with flowing hair, surrounded by 13 stars, designed by George T. Morgan |
Reverse Design | Eagle with wings spread, holding arrows and olive branch, designed by George T. Morgan |
Rarity Factors and Value Drivers
Condition plays a crucial role in determining the value of 1881 Morgan Dollars. Coins in uncirculated condition (MS60 and above) are significantly more valuable than circulated examples. The rarity and value increase dramatically for coins graded MS65 and higher, especially for the Carson City mint.
For all mint locations, coins with deep, frosty luster and minimal contact marks command premium prices. The Carson City issues, in particular, are highly sought after in all grades due to their low mintage and the popularity of the CC mint mark among collectors.
Mintage: 9,163,975
Rarity Scale: Common
Circulation Status: Widely Circulated
Preservation Rarity: Common in grades up to MS65, scarce in MS66 and above
Varieties Errors: None significant
Market Demand: Moderate, popular as a type coin
Mintage: 5,708,000
Rarity Scale: Common
Circulation Status: Widely Circulated
Preservation Rarity: Scarce in MS65 and above
Varieties Errors: None significant
Market Demand: Moderate, slightly higher than Philadelphia
Mintage: 12,760,000
Rarity Scale: Common
Circulation Status: Widely Circulated
Preservation Rarity: Scarce in MS65 and above
Varieties Errors: None significant
Market Demand: Moderate
Mintage: 296,000
Rarity Scale: Scarce
Circulation Status: Limited Circulation
Preservation Rarity: Rare in MS65 and above
Varieties Errors: None significant
Market Demand: High, due to low mintage and Carson City mystique
Toning can significantly impact the value of 1881 Morgan Dollars. Coins with attractive, natural toning patterns, especially those with vibrant rainbow colors, can command substantial premiums over untoned examples.
Strike quality is another important factor. Well-struck coins with full detail, particularly on Liberty’s hair and the eagle’s feathers, are more desirable. The New Orleans and Carson City issues are often weakly struck, making strong examples more valuable.
For the Carson City mint, the GSA hoard releases in the 1970s have had a lasting impact on the market. CC Morgans sold in original GSA holders often command a premium over those in regular holders.