Morgan Dollar Mint Marks Explained: CC, O, S, D & No Mint Mark
If you have ever looked at the reverse of a Morgan Dollar and noticed a small letter beneath the wreath, you may have wondered what it means.
That small mark is a mint mark, and it can tell you where a Morgan Dollar was produced.
Morgan Dollars were struck at several U.S. Mint facilities during their original production, including Philadelphia, San Francisco, New Orleans, Carson City, and, for the final 1921 issue, Denver. Each mint produced coins with its own identifying mark—or, in the case of Philadelphia, generally no mint mark.
For collectors, mint marks are more than small letters on a coin. They help distinguish different issues of the same Morgan Dollar date and connect each coin to a particular place in American history.
In this guide, we'll explain the major Morgan Dollar mint marks—CC, O, S, D, and no mint mark—where they were used, how to identify them, and why they matter to collectors.
What Is a Mint Mark?
A mint mark is a letter or symbol placed on a coin to identify the mint facility where it was produced.
For Morgan Dollars, the mint mark is particularly useful because the same date could be produced at different facilities. A Morgan Dollar with an "S" mint mark, for example, was struck at the San Francisco Mint, while a Morgan Dollar with a "CC" mint mark was produced at the Carson City Mint.
The absence of a mint mark also provides information. Original Morgan Dollars without a mint mark were struck at the Philadelphia Mint.
Today, mint marks are an important part of U.S. coin collecting. Collectors often organize coins by date and mint mark, creating collections that show how the same design was produced at different locations across the country.
Where Were Morgan Dollars Minted?
The original Morgan Dollar was first struck in 1878 and was produced through 1904, before production resumed for one final year in 1921. The coin was designed by George T. Morgan and became one of the most recognizable American silver dollar designs.
During its original production period, Morgan Dollars were struck at five different U.S. Mint facilities.
| Mint | Mint Mark | Morgan Dollar Production |
| Philadelphia | No Mint Mark | 1878–1904, 1921 |
| San Francisco | S | 1878–1904, 1921 |
| New Orleans | O | 1879–1904 |
| Carson City | CC | 1878–1885, 1889–1893 |
| Denver | D | 1921 |
This makes mint marks one of the easiest ways to distinguish different Morgan Dollar issues.
The production history also reflects the changing geography of American coin production during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The western mints, particularly San Francisco and Carson City, were closely connected to the development of the American West and the country's silver-mining industry.
Morgan Dollar Mint Marks Explained
No Mint Mark — Philadelphia
If a Morgan Dollar does not have a mint mark, it was produced at the Philadelphia Mint.
Philadelphia was the original United States Mint and did not use a mint mark on these Morgan Dollars. This means that a coin without a letter below the wreath should not automatically be considered unusual or incomplete.
For original Morgan Dollars, the absence of a mint mark generally indicates Philadelphia production.
Philadelphia struck Morgan Dollars from 1878 through 1904 and again in 1921.
For collectors, Philadelphia issues are an important part of the Morgan Dollar series because they provide a useful comparison with coins carrying marks from the other mints.
CC — Carson City
The CC mint mark stands for the Carson City Mint in Nevada.
Carson City was established in 1870 in connection with the silver resources of the American West, including the famous Comstock Lode. The mint produced Morgan Dollars from 1878 to 1885 and again from 1889 to 1893.
The CC mint mark is one of the most recognizable marks in the Morgan Dollar series.
Collectors often pay particular attention to Carson City issues because of their connection to western mining history and the relatively short period during which Carson City produced Morgan Dollars.
The Carson City Mint ceased coin production in 1893.
If you are interested in the history behind CC Morgan Dollars, the mint mark provides a direct connection between the coin and the development of the American West.
O — New Orleans
The O mint mark represents the New Orleans Mint in Louisiana.
New Orleans began producing Morgan Dollars in 1879, one year after the first Morgan Dollars were struck, and continued producing them through 1904.
The O mint mark is therefore associated with a substantial portion of the Morgan Dollar series.
New Orleans played an important role in American coin production because of its position as a major commercial center in the South. Its Morgan Dollar issues provide another example of how the same national coin design was produced at different regional mint facilities.
S — San Francisco
The S mint mark represents the San Francisco Mint in California.
For anyone interested in Morgan Dollar mint marks, the S is particularly important because San Francisco produced Morgan Dollars during much of the original series.
San Francisco struck Morgan Dollars from 1878 through 1904 and again in 1921.
The San Francisco Mint itself has a long history. The U.S. Mint identifies San Francisco with the "S" mint mark and dates its minting history back to 1854.
What Does the S Mean on a Morgan Dollar?
If you see an S on the reverse of a Morgan Dollar, it indicates that the coin was struck at the San Francisco Mint.
The mint mark appears on the reverse, below the wreath.
This small letter can distinguish an S-mint Morgan Dollar from another Morgan Dollar with the same date but a different mint of origin.
For example:
- 1881-S = 1881 Morgan Dollar struck at San Francisco
- 1881-CC = 1881 Morgan Dollar struck at Carson City
- 1881-O = 1881 Morgan Dollar struck at New Orleans
- 1881 without a mint mark = Philadelphia issue
The date alone therefore does not tell the entire story. The mint mark adds another important piece of information.
D — Denver
The D mint mark represents the Denver Mint in the context of Morgan Dollars.
However, there is an important detail that beginners often miss:
Denver produced Morgan Dollars only in 1921.
The Morgan Dollar returned to production in 1921 after a long production pause. Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver all produced Morgan Dollars that year. Denver was the first mint to produce Morgan Dollars at that facility.
That makes the 1921-D Morgan Dollar distinct within the series.
The Denver Mint itself was established later than the original Morgan Dollar production period, which explains why there are no 19th-century D-mint Morgan Dollars.
Morgan Dollar Mint Mark Chart
For a quick reference, here are the major Morgan Dollar mint marks:
| Mint Mark | Mint | Location |
|---|---|---|
| No Mint Mark | Philadelphia | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| S | San Francisco | San Francisco, California |
| O | New Orleans | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| CC | Carson City | Carson City, Nevada |
| D | Denver | Denver, Colorado |
One important distinction is worth remembering: O and CC were historical mint marks associated with the former New Orleans and Carson City Mints.
The U.S. Mint later used O and CC privy marks on certain modern 2021 Morgan Dollar products to commemorate those historic facilities. Those modern coins were not actually struck at the former New Orleans or Carson City Mints.
How to Identify a Morgan Dollar Mint Mark
Identifying a Morgan Dollar mint mark is relatively straightforward once you know where to look.
Step 1: Turn the coin over
Start with the reverse side of the Morgan Dollar.
The reverse features the eagle, wreath, and inscriptions including "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "IN GOD WE TRUST," and "ONE DOLLAR."
Step 2: Look below the wreath
The mint mark is located beneath the wreath on the reverse.
This is a small area, so a magnifying glass or clear photograph can make identification easier.
Step 3: Look for a letter
You may find:
- CC
- O
- S
- D
- or no mint mark
Step 4: Match the mark to the mint
Use the chart:
CC → Carson City
O → New Orleans
S → San Francisco
D → Denver
No Mint Mark → Philadelphia
Step 5: Check the date
The date is also important.
Not every mint produced Morgan Dollars during every year of the series. For example, a D-mint Morgan Dollar belongs to the 1921 issue, while CC Morgan Dollars were produced only during specific periods between 1878 and 1893.
Looking at the date and mint mark together provides a much clearer identification.
Does the Mint Mark Affect a Morgan Dollar's Value?
A mint mark can influence collector interest and the market value of a genuine Morgan Dollar, but it is not the only factor.
Two Morgan Dollars with the same design and the same date can have different levels of collector demand because they were produced at different mints.
However, it is important not to assume:
A certain mint mark automatically means a coin is valuable.
Collectors may consider several factors, including:
- Date
- Mint mark
- Mintage
- Estimated surviving population
- Condition
- Grade
- Strike quality
- Surface preservation
- Rarity
- Authenticity
- Collector demand
The condition of an original coin can make a substantial difference.
Authenticity is also critical. Morgan Dollars are a popular area of numismatics, and altered or counterfeit examples can exist. Professional coin-authentication resources have specifically documented cases involving added mint marks on Morgan Dollars.
For that reason, a mint mark should be viewed as one part of the identification process, rather than a guarantee of rarity or value.
CC vs. S vs. O vs. D Morgan Dollars
One of the easiest ways to understand Morgan Dollar mint marks is to compare them directly.
CC Morgan Dollars
CC = Carson City
These coins connect the Morgan Dollar series with Nevada's silver-mining history and the American West. Carson City produced Morgan Dollars from 1878–1885 and 1889–1893.
S Morgan Dollars
S = San Francisco
San Francisco produced Morgan Dollars from 1878–1904 and again in 1921. The S mark is especially useful when identifying coins from the western United States.
O Morgan Dollars
O = New Orleans
New Orleans produced Morgan Dollars from 1879 through 1904.
D Morgan Dollars
D = Denver
Denver produced Morgan Dollars only in 1921.
No Mint Mark Morgan Dollars
No Mint Mark = Philadelphia
Philadelphia produced Morgan Dollars throughout the original series, including the final 1921 issue.
Why Do Collectors Study Morgan Dollar Mint Marks?
Mint marks add another layer to Morgan Dollar collecting.
Someone collecting only by year might look for one 1881 Morgan Dollar.
A collector interested in mint marks might instead look for:
- 1881 Philadelphia
- 1881-S
- 1881-O
- 1881-CC
The result is a collection that tells a broader story.
Instead of simply showing different years, it shows how the same iconic American design was produced at different locations.
Mint-mark collecting can therefore turn the Morgan Dollar series into a study of American geography, industrial development, silver production, and the history of the U.S. Mint.
For beginners, it also provides a relatively simple way to start learning about numismatics: look at the date, find the mint mark, and learn what the two details mean together.
Original Morgan Dollars vs. Morgan Dollar Replica Coins
There is an important distinction between collecting genuine historical Morgan Dollars and collecting replica or souvenir coins inspired by the series.
Genuine Morgan Dollars
An original Morgan Dollar is a historical U.S. coin produced by the United States Mint during the original Morgan Dollar era.
Its collector interest can depend on factors such as:
- Date
- Mint mark
- Condition
- Grade
- Rarity
- Provenance
- Authenticity
Some genuine Morgan Dollars can command substantial prices, while others are more accessible to collectors.
Morgan Dollar Replica Coins
A replica coin reproduces or is inspired by the historical design of a Morgan Dollar but is not an original U.S. Mint coin from the historical series.
Replica and souvenir coins can provide a more accessible way to explore historical coin designs for:
- Display
- Education
- Historical projects
- Themed collections
- Decorative purposes
- Collectors interested in coin designs
The distinction should always be clear.
A replica should not be represented as a genuine historical Morgan Dollar, and collectors looking for authentic numismatic pieces should evaluate authenticity separately.
For more information about replica coins, please refer to our article: What Are Replica Coins? A Beginner’s Guide to Collectible Replica Coins.
Alternatively, if you would like to learn about the collecting guide for replica coins, you can also click here→ Replica Coin Guide: Everything You Need to Know.
Exploring S-Mint Morgan Dollar Designs with Replica Coins
For collectors who are particularly interested in the design and history of Morgan Dollars, replica coins offer another way to explore the series.
An S-mint-mark Morgan Dollar replica reproduces the visual design associated with the San Francisco issue while being clearly identified as a replica or souvenir coin.
This can be useful for people who want to study different Morgan Dollar dates and mint-mark designs without purchasing genuine vintage coins.
At QL Souvenir Coins, our Morgan Dollar replica coins include designs featuring the S mint mark associated with San Francisco. They are intended as replica/souvenir collectibles rather than genuine historical U.S. currency.
For someone researching Morgan Dollar mint marks, an S-marked replica can also make it easier to compare the visual differences between different mint-mark examples and understand where the small mark appears on the reverse.
Explore Morgan Dollar Replica Coins from QL Souvenir Coins →
Frequently Asked Questions About Morgan Dollar Mint Marks
What does the S mean on a Morgan Dollar?
The S mint mark indicates that the Morgan Dollar was struck at the San Francisco Mint.
What does CC mean on a Morgan Dollar?
CC stands for the Carson City Mint in Nevada. Carson City produced Morgan Dollars from 1878–1885 and 1889–1893.
What does O mean on a Morgan Dollar?
The O mint mark represents the New Orleans Mint. New Orleans produced Morgan Dollars from 1879 through 1904.
Did Denver make Morgan Dollars?
Yes. The Denver Mint produced Morgan Dollars in 1921, the final year of original Morgan Dollar production.
Are Morgan Dollars without a mint mark from Philadelphia?
Yes. Original Morgan Dollars without a mint mark were struck at the Philadelphia Mint.
Where is the mint mark on a Morgan Dollar?
The mint mark is located on the reverse side of the coin, below the wreath.
Does a mint mark make a Morgan Dollar more valuable?
It can affect collector interest and market value, but a mint mark alone does not determine a coin's value. Date, condition, rarity, authenticity, and other factors also matter.
Are Morgan Dollar replica coins real Morgan Dollars?
No. A Morgan Dollar replica is not an original historical U.S. Mint Morgan Dollar. Replica coins are reproductions or representations of the historical design and should be clearly identified as such.