Morgan Dollar Value Guides: 1921 and 2021 Errors and Varieties

1921 Morgan Silver Dollar Value Chart (2026 Market Data)

Grade / Condition 1921 (Philadelphia) 1921-D (Denver) 1921-S (San Fran)
Circulated (VG-XF) $68 - $74 $68 - $72 $68 - $75
About Uncirculated (AU58) $45 - $75 $50 - $75 $70 - $85
Choice Unc (MS63) $80 - $115 $170 - $185 $175 - $200
Gem Mint State (MS65) $215+ $550+ $875+
Superb Gem (MS66) $700+ $1,000+ $3,500+
Record Grade (MS67+) $11,500+ $13,500 - $39,000 $25,000+

*Market values as of Jan 4, 2026. Silver Spot: $71.93. Certified coins (PCGS/NGC) command higher premiums.

silver 1921 morgan dollar reverse macro image

Morgan Silver Dollar Origins

1921 Morgan dollar errors and varieties are highly sought after extremely collectible coins.  As you’ll see, their value increases over time.  Use a digital coin scale to avoid purchasing counterfeit silver dollar coins.  Bookmark this post!  Plus, here you’ll learn which mint state Morgan dollars are the rarest coins. 

Morgan Dollar Coin Production Ended in 1921 until 2021

The Morgan Dollar was designed by George T. Morgan, and features a profile of Lady Liberty on the obverse.  A heraldic eagle displays on the reverse.  Morgan dollars were issued in silver from 1878 to 1904, again in 1921 and the 2021 Centennial.

90% Silver Dollar VS Counterfeit

The Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints struck 90% silver dollars in 1921.  That was the year counterfeiters focused on making counterfeits.  Use a magnet to detect first. If it sticks to the magnet then it’s not silver.  Then, weight it with a digital pocket scale.

Morgan Dollars represent the country’s westward expansion and industrial development in the late 19th century.  Keep scrolling to read about what happened to the teacher it was modeled after and see the current market value of 2021 Silver Morgan Dollar Special Edition Privy Coins.

🔍 Expert Authentication Guide: 1921 Morgan Dollars

The 1921 Morgan Dollar is the most heavily counterfeited silver coin in the market today. Because 1921 used a unique, lower-relief design compared to the 1878-1904 series, many collectors mistake genuine mint variations for fakes—and vice versa.

Before you buy or sell, verify your coin against our technical silver database:

Morgan Dollar a Most Rare and Valuable Collectible Coin

Morgan Dollars are an all time favorite of coin collectors.  Don’t believe me? Let the ratings show for themselves. The United States Mint announced that the 2021 limited edition renditions of the classic Morgan and Peace Dollars meant to honor the history of the original mintage. – usmint.gov  

macro image of 2021 morgan silver dollar

Silver 2021 Centennial Morgan and Peace Dollar Orders Overloaded the US Mint

First, collectors experienced difficulty while ordering the privy-marked examples of the limited-edition 2021 Morgan and Peace dollars

For instance, after the window to preorder opened on May 24th, a massive traffic overload to the website server prevented orders from being completed.  Talk about silver dollars an ever shiny hot commodity!

Furthermore, it forced the nation’s coin bureau to delay the release of three additional 2021 Morgan dollars and a single 2021 Peace dollar.coinworld.com

The extraordinary volume of web traffic during the first preorder window for the 2021 Morgan Dollars with Carson City privy mark (21XC) and New Orleans privy mark (21XD), led to the postponing of the preorder windows for the remaining 2021 Centennial Dollars.  Then Coinflation happened.

2021 Centennial Morgan Silver Dollar Value Chart (2026 Market)

Release (Mint/Privy) Mintage Raw (In Box + COA) Certified MS70
2021-CC Privy Mark (Carson City) 175,000 $245 - $295 $545 - $950+
2021-O Privy Mark (New Orleans) 175,000 $155 - $215 $485 - $750+
2021-D Mint Mark (Denver) 175,000 $130 - $185 $505 - $620+
2021-S Mint Mark (San Francisco) 175,000 $135 - $215 $508 - $595+
2021-P (Philadelphia / No Mark) 175,000 $110 - $140 $480 - $550+

*Values updated January 4, 2026. MS70 prices vary based on "First Day of Issue" or "Mercanti Signed" labels. Silver Spot

The desirability of coins to the masses was clearly underestimated, since even the phone lines were overwhelmed.  2021 Centennial Morgan and Peace Dollars sold out in minutes!  Demand is far greater than supply.

Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan and Peace Dollars

A VAM is a silver dollar die variety listed in an all-inclusive book called The Comprehensive Catalog and Encyclopedia of Morgan and Peace Dollars, written by Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis. 

VAM is an acronym for Van Allen-Mallis.  The goal of VAM was to number and catalog every known die variety by date and mint mark.  Together they achieved their goal.

1921 Morgan Dollar Wide Reeded Rim Variety Coin

Morgan Dollars with wide reeding represent more rare varieties.  For instance, there are 157 reeds on this particular coin.  Other 1921 silver dollars have 189 reeds.  

Secret Silver Stacking

The collar die that made the differing reeding is rare to the Morgan dollar series Numismatists think it may have been an experimental die. – The Society of Silver Dollar Collectors

Detecting Counterfeit Morgan Dollars

A careful coin examination and researching online determined the rare wide reeded rim silver coin featured in this article as legit.  Use the weight check. A genuine Morgan weighs 26.7 grams, but first use a magnet. If it sticks to a magnet it’s a fake.

Lady Liberty is a Teacher

Fun fact!  A school teacher model, Anna Willess Williams, whose image was used for the Morgan dollar design, was fired from her teaching position for being the face of Lady Liberty!  She was reinstated eventually.  Because there was no shame in such an honorable side gig of serving her country.

Furthermore, pay attention to lessons learned and shared by other collectors.  Spare yourself from embarrassment and save a lot of money too!

Join In The Never Ending Great American Coin Hunt!

Finally, check out Rare West Point Mint Special Limited Edition Quarters. Don’t sell any you find for less than twenty dollars each and Happy Hunting!

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Author: MarkedMoney.Tech

MarkedMoney.Tech is led by a dedicated coin hunter with years of experience in high-volume roll searching and error identification. Having personally discovered and auctioned rare 2020-W V75 varieties, our mission is to provide collectors with technical, microscopic-level data to help them identify their own 'pocket change' treasures."