Where is the mint mark on a 1900 silver dollar? Silver dollars minted in 1900 have become highly sought-after by coin collectors and investors over the past few decades. With silver prices on the rise, these coins can be worth a considerable amount depending on factors like condition, rarity, and mintage.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: On 1900 Morgan silver dollars, the mint mark is found on the reverse (tails) side of the coin, below the wreath and above the DO in DOLLAR.
Identifying a 1900 Silver Dollar
Date and Design
The 1900 Morgan silver dollar features the same design as other Morgan silver dollars minted from 1878 to 1904. The obverse depicts a profile portrait of Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap with the word “Liberty” inscribed above.
The reverse displays an eagle with wings spread, holding arrows and an olive branch, with the phrases “In God We Trust” and “E Pluribus Unum.”
As with all Morgan dollars, the 1900 coin contains 0.77344 troy ounces of 90% silver and 10% copper.
Silver Content and Size
The 1900 Morgan silver dollar is composed of 90% silver, weighing 26.73 grams in total. Its diameter measures 38.1 millimeters across.
In comparison to other contemporary silver dollars:
| Year | Silver Content | Weight | Diameter |
| 1900 Morgan Dollar | 90% silver | 26.73g | 38.1mm |
| 1921 Peace Dollar | 90% silver | 26.73g | 38.1mm |
| 1971 Eisenhower Dollar | 40% silver | 24.59g | 38.1mm |
This shows how the pure silver weight and size remained consistent for US silver dollars in the early 20th century before declining with the 1971 Eisenhower dollar.
Condition Grading
As with all collectible coins, the condition significantly impacts the value of a 1900 silver dollar. The Sheldon scale grades coins on a numerical scale from 1 to 70, with 70 representing perfect mint condition.
A 1900 silver dollar with a grade below 20 is typically only valued for its 0.77344 troy ounces of silver bullion. Coins graded MS-60 or higher begin gaining numismatic collector value. For reference, MS-60 denotes minor wear and bag marks, while MS-65 indicates only minor friction under magnification.
The highest graded 1900 Morgans can reach MS-67 or higher.
Only 4,000 proof versions of the 1900 silver dollar exist as well. These specialized collector coins have mirrored surfaces and extra sharp details. Proof 1900 Morgan dollars are exceptionally rare and sell for $10,000+ in PR-65 condition or better according to PCGS CoinFacts.
Mint Marks and Rarity
Four Mints Produced 1900 Morgan Dollars
In 1900, four different mints produced the popular Morgan silver dollar: Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Carson City. The Philadelphia Mint did not put mint marks on coins at that time, so Philadelphia Morgan dollars from 1900 have no mint mark.
The other three mints placed small letters on the reverse (tail side) of their Morgan dollars to identify them:
- O = New Orleans
- S = San Francisco
- CC = Carson City
Scarcity of Certain Mint Mark Varieties
The 1900 Morgan silver dollars from the New Orleans and Carson City mints had much lower mintages than the Philadelphia and San Francisco versions. According to the colorful coin info site Greysheet.com, around 12 million 1900-O and an unknown number of 1900-CC dollars were made, compared with 8 million from Philadelphia and a whopping 3.5 million from San Francisco.
This scarcity makes the New Orleans and Carson City mint-marked coins quite valuable. An average circulated 1900-O Morgan in G-4 condition retails for around $95, while the rarer 1900-CC sells for about $425 in the same grade.
No Mint Mark Coins
Since Philadelphia did not use a mint mark in 1900, coins from that mint look slightly different from the others. They have a blank space beneath the wreath on the reverse where the New Orleans, San Francisco, and Carson City mint marks otherwise appear.
Some counterfeiters have unfortunately added false mint marks to Philadelphia Morgan dollars to try fooling less knowledgeable collectors into paying extra for them. However, experts can easily detect these altered pieces through close inspection.
Finding the Mint Mark
Determining where the mint mark is located on a 1900 silver dollar can sometimes be tricky. Unlike modern coins that have a consistent placement, older coins like those from 1900 had some variability when it came to mint mark placement.
Look at the Reverse (Back) of the Coin
For most 1900 silver dollars, the mint mark will be found on the back (reverse) of the coin below the wreath near the bottom. This is the most common place you will find the mint mark on a 1900 Morgan silver dollar.
Carefully examine this area with a magnifying glass or jeweler’s loupe to locate any letter mint mark.
Watch Out for Rarer Varieties
While most 1900 silver dollars have the mint mark on the back as described, there were some rare varieties that year with the mint mark in a different location. These include:
- 1900-O Over CC: This is an extremely rare overminted variety where an “O” mint mark was stamped over a “CC” mint mark. For these, look inside the loop of the second C in “America” on the reverse.
- 1900-S Over S: On some San Francisco mint examples in 1900, a second weaker “S” mint mark was double stamped. Check around the regular “S” mint mark for signs of doubling.
So while checking the bottom of the reverse wreath is the safest place to locate the mint mark in most cases, be sure to also investigate inside the loop of the second C and around the primary mint mark for signs of overminting or doubling on rare 1900 varieties.
Use a Reputable Coin Dealer If Uncertain
If you are still unsure of the mint mark location or possible variety for your 1900 silver dollar, consulting a knowledgeable third-party grading service like NGC can help provide an authoritative assessment.
Their expertise with early American coinage like Morgan dollars can accurately determine mint mark placements and diagnose rare overminted or doubled varieties.
Mint Mark Positions Over Time
Earlier Morgan Dollar Mint Marks (1878-1899)
The Morgan silver dollar was first produced in 1878 at the Philadelphia, Carson City, and San Francisco mints. From 1878-1904 and again in 1921, the mint mark was located on the reverse of the coin below the wreath near the bottom. The mint marks during this period were small and unobtrusive:
- “O” for New Orleans
- “CC” for Carson City
- “S” for San Francisco
An exception occurred in 1893 when a rare and valuable variety known as the “1893-S Morgan Dollar” was produced at the San Francisco mint with a larger, more prominent mint mark placed below the eagle’s tail feathers.
This was likely done to distinguish that year’s low-mintage San Francisco dollars from their Philadelphia counterparts.
Later Issues (1921)
After halting Morgan dollar production in 1904, the United States Mint resumed striking the coins again in 1921 to help relieve a nationwide shortage of silver dollars. On these later-date issues, the mint mark was enlarged and moved from the reverse to the obverse, appearing just above the “DO” in “DOLLAR”:
- No mint mark = Philadelphia
- D = Denver
- S = San Francisco
So in 1921, checking the obverse or “heads” side for a mint mark is necessary, rather than looking on the reverse as with earlier Morgan dollars. The 1921 issues also have a higher relief and more lustrous finish, making them easy to distinguish from their 19th-century predecessors.
Approximately 86 million Morgan dollars with no mint mark, 20 million “1921-D” Morgans, and over 21 million “1921-S” dollars were manufactured that year.
Impact on Collectability and Value
Condition Rarity Considerations
The condition of a 1900 silver dollar plays a major role in its collectability and value. These coins saw heavy circulation for decades, so finding one in pristine, mint condition is exceptionally rare. Most have some degree of wear and tear like scratches and bag marks.
According to the influential “Coin World Trends” price guide, an average circulated 1900 silver dollar is worth around $25-30. However, an uncirculated example with a near-flawless surface can sell for over $2,500.
Key grading aspects that affect pricing are luster quality, number/severity of bag marks, and quality of the strike.
Grading Variations Among Mints
Multiple mints were producing silver dollars in 1900 including Philadelphia (no mint mark), New Orleans (“O”), and San Francisco (“S”). The San Francisco pieces tend to be the rarest and most collectible for a few reasons:
- The San Francisco mint had the lowest output of silver dollars in 1900, creating extra demand from date/mint collectors.
- On average, the strike quality from San Francisco mints tended to be sharper than Philadelphia or New Orleans resulting in more fully detailed coins.
- A smaller number of San Francisco silver dollars entered circulation, increasing the availability of nicer graded uncirculated examples.
So an equivalent grade 1900-S dollar may trade for a 10-20% premium over a 1900 Philadelphia or 1900-O dollar.
Where Is The Mint Mark On A 1900 Silver Dollar – Conclusion
In summary, identifying the mint mark location and variety is an important factor in determining the collectability and value of 1900 Morgan silver dollars. While all have a standard 90% silver composition, some mintages are considerably smaller than others.
Examining the reverse tail side below the wreath – above DOLLAR is key to spotting the mint’s insignia. Once verified, comparison to mintage tables and price guides for the date, mint mark, and condition can give a good baseline market value.
