Category Archives: Morgan Dollar

1886morgan

1886 Morgan Dollar : A Collector’s Guide

 

1886 Morgan Dollar. Image: CoinWeek.
1886 Morgan Dollar. Image: CoinWeek.

Millions of 1886 Morgan Dollars Were Struck and Stored

The Philadelphia Mint, being the main mint of the United States, was responsible for producing coins for the America’s mid-Atlantic, New England, and for the populated region of the midwest. The Mint’s branches in New Orleans, Carson City, and San Francisco produced coins in silver and gold for the South and West. All four of these mints were put to task striking millions of Morgan dollars in accordance with a federal law passed in 1878. Demand for these large silver coins in most regions of the country was modest at best, and the surplus of unwanted silver dollars sat in bags in Treasury vaults for decades.

By 1886, eight years into these silver dollar scheme, this lack of demand was acutely felt by the Mint and production levels at each branch was largely based on which location had the capacity to store the coins. While mintages at the branch mints fluctuated because of this, Philadelphia was offered no reprieve.

Coming into 1886, the Philadelphia had already produced 102,324,800 Morgan dollars. That year, Philadelphia would strike 19,963,000 more coins and still more the following year. It is because of these large mintages and the fact that so many coins were saved in large quantity in uncirculated condition that the Morgan dollar series saw a tremendous surge in collecting popularity in the 1960s and 1970s as silver coins disappeared from circulation.

What is the 1886 Morgan Dollar Worth?

The 1886 Morgan dollar is a coin that most hobbyists classify as common in all but the higher uncirculated grades. But this is only part of the story. Due to the fact that the coin has an actual silver weight of .77344 ounces of pure silver, every authentic 1886 Morgan dollar, regardless of condition is worth considerably more than the $1 face value stamped on the coin’s reverse. With silver prices approaching $25 an ounce, that puts a baseline value of a circulated 1886 Morgan dollar at about $19 in metal. Even this price is too low for the coin, as collectors will typically pay between $30 and $50 for circulated examples.

1886 Morgan Dollar obverse.
An 1886 Morgan Dollar in uncirculated condition.

More often than not, collectors prefer uncirculated examples of common date Morgan dollars and the 1886 Morgan dollar is plentiful in brilliant uncirculated condition. The vallue of these coins depends on the assigned grade, the coin’s eye appeal, and to some extent, the service that encapsulated the coin. The three grading services that drive the certified Morgan dollar market are CAC, NGC, and PCGS.

Through November 2023, NGC counts 164,067 1886 Morgan dollars in its condition census, from that total 1,151 are noted as having Prooflike surfaces and 607 as having Deep Mirror Prooflike surfaces. The vast majority of these coins fall in the MS63 to MS64 grade band. In this grade range, the 1886 Morgan dollar sells for about $100 each.

PCGS counts 144,127 1886 Morgan dollars in its condition census. 1,251 of these are Prooflike, while 1,005 are Deep Mirror Prooflike. As was the case with NGC, PCGS considered most of the dollars submitted in the MS63 and MS64 grade range. At this level PCGS and NGC coins sell for about the same price: $100 each.

CAC has applied a CAC-approved sticker to NGC and PCGS-graded coins for the past sixteen years. In 2023, it launched a full service grading company with a location in Virginia Beach. To date, CAC has approved 3,512 1886 Morgan dollars with 62 approved with Prooflike and 69 Deep Mirror Prooflike. In addition, this year, the service has graded 81 1886 Morgan dollars, with a distribution of coins in the MS63 to MS66 range.

In Gem Uncirculated condition (MS65), the 1886 Morgan dollar sells for prices between $180 and $220. At this grade and higher, collectors pay large premiums for coins with exceptional eye appeal and toning. To date, PCGS reports one example at the grade MS68+ and estimates it’s value to be $20,000. Recent sales of MS68 coins have fallen in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. Less for coins graded by NGC. At this price point, the market value of an 1886 Morgan dollar is coin and time dependent.

Design

Obverse:

The obverse of the 1886 Morgan dollar exhibits the characteristic left-facing Liberty Head motif seen on all issues of this classic dollar series. The central Liberty bust wears a Phrygian cap encircled with a ribbon adorned with the inscription LIBERTY. Miss Liberty also wears a crown of wheat and cotton, which were two of the nation’s most lucrative natural agricultural assets in the 19th century.

The phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM is inscribed along the upper half of the obverse rim, and the date 1886 is centered at the bottom of the obverse adjacent to the rim. Seven stars appear between the left side of the date and the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM, while six stars fill the gap between the date and motto on the lower right side of the coin. In total, the 13 stars symbolize the 13 colonies that combined to form the original Union of the United States. At the base of Liberty’s neck is the “M” monogram representing Morgan’s initial.

Morgan designed the Liberty head bust after the likeness of Anna Willess Williams, a Philadelphia schoolteacher who modeled for the coin. Williams received significant public recognition after her face appeared on the Morgan dollar, but she rejected the attention that was heaped upon her. She refused offers for acting roles and apparently had turned down an offer for marriage following her engagement to an unknown suitor. Before dying at the age of 68 in 1926, Williams, who sat for Morgan on the sworn condition of anonymity, rebuffed her single stint as a coin design model as little more than an “incident of my youth.”

Reverse:

The reverse of the 1886 Morgan dollar is dominated by a heraldic eagle, its wings spread across the upper half of the coin. Between the upper tips of the eagle’s wings appears the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The eagle clutches an olive branch in its right claw representing peace and in its left claw are three arrows symbolizing the nation’s ability to defend itself. The central eagle design is partly encircled by a laurel wreath.

Along the rim of the upper two-thirds of the reverse is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, with the tip of the eagle’s left wings, which virtually touch the coin’s rim, interrupting the space between UNITED and STATES; the right wing visually divides the words OF and AMERICA. The words ONE DOLLAR, seen at the bottom center of the reverse, are flanked by a single, six-sided star on either side of the denomination inscription.

Edge:

The edge of the 1886 Morgan dollar is reeded.

Designer

Engraver George T. Morgan was born in Birmingham, England in 1845. He emigrated to the United States and began work as an assistant to Mint Chief Engraver William Barber and continued to produce patterns and commemoratives under the administration of Barber’s son, Charles. Morgan himself became Chief Engraver in 1917. He died in 1925.

Coin Specifications

Country:  United States
Year Of Issue:  1886
Denomination:  1 Dollar
Mint Mark:  None (Philadelphia)
Mintage:  19,963,000 (Business Strike); 886 (Proof)
Alloy:  90% Silver, 10% Copper
Weight:  26.73 grams
Diameter:  38.10 mm
Edge Reeded
OBV Designer  George T. Morgan
REV Designer  George T. Morgan
Quality:  Business Strike, Proof

 


 

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1893ccredfield

1893-CC Morgan Dollar : A Collector’s Guide

 

1893-CC Morgan Dollar. Image: CoinWeek / Stack's Bowers.
1893-CC Morgan Dollar. Image: CoinWeek / Stack’s Bowers.

How Did the Morgan Dollar Get its Name?

The Morgan dollar gets its name from United States Mint engraver George T. Morgan, who designed the dollar coin in competition with then-Chief Engraver William Barber. The two had a generally cordial relationship, though numismatists throughout the generations have supposed that Barber may have been envious of Morgan’s talent as an engraver and treated him with some degree of unprofessionalism. This is not true.

Morgan was born in England and began working for the Mint soon after his arrival in the United States in 1876. Morgan was brought on as an assistant engraver in October 1876 and then worked under William Barber. In addition to the Liberty Head dollar, Morgan has several coin design credits to his name, including the Columbian half dollar of 1892 and 1893, and an array of pattern coins designed during the late 19th century, most notable of these being the never-released $100 Gold Union coin.

The 1893-CC Morgan Dollar Was Struck In the Final Years of the Carson City Mint

The 1893-CC Morgan dollar is the last silver coin that was struck at the Carson City branch of the United States Mint. The Mint, running out of bullion deposits from the great Comstock Lode, struck 677,000 Morgan dollars in its final year of coining operations, along with 60,000 half eagles, 14,000 eagles, and 18,402 double eagles.

The United States Mint would officially decommission the Carson City branch in 1899, leaving it open as a U.S. Assay Office until 1933. During its tenure as a coin striking facility, Carson City produced some of the most storied coins in American numismatic history. Coins struck at the Carson City Mint carry with them the allure of the Old West, of stagecoaches, cowboys, gamblers, and gunslingers. It was with this evocative imagery that the Government Services Administration (GSA) sought to market the government’s stash of Carson City dollars in the 1970s and ’80s. In that pool of coins, just one 1893-CC was found.

As far as the striking of Silver Dollars is concerned, the Carson City Mint produced coins in three distinct spurts: 1870-1873 (Seated Liberty Type), 1878-1875 (Morgan Type), and 1889-1893 (Morgan Type). As far as the Morgan dollar type is concerned, the 1893-CC is the third scarcest of the Carson City issues.

Most 1893-CC Morgan dollars wound up in the Treasury vaults with the majority of those being melted down in 1918. The sealed bags of 1893-CC dollar coins that survived the melt were paid out at the San Francisco Mint and the Washington, D.C. Cash Room.

1893-CC Morgan Dollars in the Redfield Hoard

1893-CC Ad (1978), Paramount International Coin Corporation
A two-page Paramount International Coin Corporation ad offering a limited quantity of 1893-CC Morgan dollars from the Redfield Hoard. Outdated address and contact information have been obscured.

What is likely the final dispersal of 1893-CC Morgan dollars in quantity came in 1978, When Paramount International Coin Corporation counted a small number of uncirculated examples among the 400,000 coins of the massive Redfield hoard. Accumulated in secret over the course of three decades, the hoard contained mostly uncirculated silver dollars in $1,000 mint bags. The hoard contained a number of common dates, but also counted among its number several better date Morgans, including the 1889-CC, the 1895-S, and, of course, the 1893-CC.

Unfortunately, Paramount’s handling of the Redfield Hoard left much to be desired. Many of the 1893-CC dollars were mutilated after being put through a counting machine. As a result, many coins display curvilinear scratches on the cheek and the eagle’s breast. In all likelihood, this is the quality of coin you would likely receive by purchasing an “MS60” quality coin from the April 1978 Paramount ad published in The Numismatist. Paramount also offered “MS65” coins for $1,150 (approximately $4,800 adjusted for inflation).

Assuming the quality of that coin exceeded PCGS or NGC’s standards for MS63, a buyer would have made a handsome profit off of that purchase. Recent public sales of MS63 1893-CC Morgan dollars have yielded prices in the $5,750 to $6,000 range. In MS64, the price jumps to $9,000. In MS65, the price jumps by many multiples. The record price paid for an 1893-CC is $161,000 paid for a PCGS MS66 at a Legend Morphy auction in 2013. That coin, from the Jack Lee Collection, is the PCGS plate coin for the issue.

What are 1893-CC Morgan Dollars Worth Today?

While the Carson Mint struck 677,000 1893-CC Morgan dollars, only a fraction of that mintage survive. CoinWeek estimates no more than 35,000 to 40,000 coins of this issue likely survive. NGC and PCGS combine to have graded 15,410 coins. CAC, a new grading service, reports only 17 coins in their holder as November 11, 2023. These coins were likely, once in PCGS or NGC holders. Given that it is profitable to certify even circulated 1893-CC Morgan dollars, the likelihood that there are significant numbers of coins that have yet to cycle through the grading services is low.

The value of an 1893-CC Morgan dollar depends on condition and eye appeal.

Condition relates to the amount of a wear that is imparted on a coin through circulation or mishandling. Eye appeal is a visual quality that imparts excitement on an enthusiast. When all coins are struck, they are considered to be uncirculated or in Mint State. But not all uncirculated or Mint State coins are imbued with eye appeal.

At the low end, in the most heavily circulated grades, and 1893-CC Morgan dollar is worth between $300 and $500. A circulated coin in Extra Fine condition will retain most of its design elements. At this level, 1893-CC Morgan dollars will typically sell for prices between $2,000 and $3,000. This jump in price is caused by the increased scarcity of the coin as grades approach uncirculated condition.

Coins that have never circulated will exhibit a range of features that fall in the eye appeal category. Here, the number of visible marks, the strength of the strike, the prominence of the coin’s luster, and sometimes even the color of the coin will dramatically influence the coin’s value. Uncirculated coins trade for prices approaching $10,000 for a lower-end uncirculated coin up to $200,000 or more for extraordinary examples with high eye appeal. Most uncirculated 1893-CC Morgan dollars trade between reputable coin dealers or at major auctions.

Collectors are advised to avoid purchasing any 1893-CC Morgan dollar unless it is first authenticated and certified by CAC, NGC, or PCGS. Also, purchase coins from knowledgable dealers who are authorized dealers of these three services.

Obverse:

The obverse of the 1893-CC Morgan dollar exhibits the characteristic left-facing Liberty Head motif seen on all issues of this classic dollar series. The central Liberty bust wears a Phrygian cap encircled with a ribbon adorned with the inscription LIBERTY. Miss Liberty also wears a crown of wheat and cotton, which were two of the nation’s most lucrative natural agricultural assets in the 19th century.

The phrase E PLURIBUS UNUM is inscribed along the upper half of the obverse rim, and the date 1893 is centered at the bottom of the obverse adjacent to the rim. Seven stars appear between the left side of the date and the inscription E PLURIBUS UNUM, while six stars fill the gap between the date and motto on the lower right side of the coin. In total, the 13 stars represent the 13 colonies that combined to form the original Union of the United States. At the base of Liberty’s neck is the “M” monogram representing Morgan’s initial.

Morgan designed the Liberty head bust after the likeness of Anna Willess Williams, a Philadelphia schoolteacher who modeled for the coin. Williams received significant public recognition after her face appeared on the Morgan dollar, but she rejected the attention that was heaped upon her. She refused offers for acting roles and apparently had turned down an offer for marriage following her engagement to an unknown suitor. Before dying at the age of 68 in 1926, Williams, who sat for Morgan on the sworn condition of anonymity, rebuffed her single stint as a coin design model as little more than an “incident of my youth”.

Reverse:

The reverse of the 1893-CC Morgan dollar is dominated by a heraldic eagle, its wings spread across the upper half of the coin. Between the upper tips of the eagle’s wings appears the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The eagle clutches an olive branch in its right claw representing peace and in its left claw are three arrows symbolizing the nation’s ability to defend itself. The central eagle design is partly encircled by a laurel wreath.

Along the rim of the upper two-thirds of the reverse is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, with the tip of the eagle’s left wings, which virtually touch the coin’s rim, penetrating the space between UNITED and STATES; the right wing visually divides the words OF and AMERICA. The words ONE DOLLAR, seen at the bottom center of the reverse, are flanked by a single, six-sided star on either side of the denomination inscription. The “CC” mintmark, denoting that the coin was struck at the Carson City Mint, is located above the DO of DOLLAR.

Edge:

The edge of the 1893-CC Morgan dollar is reeded.

Designer(s):

Engraver George T. Morgan was born in Birmingham, England in 1845. He emigrated to the United States and began work as an assistant to Mint Chief Engraver William Barber and continued to produce patterns and commemoratives under the administration of Barber’s son, Charles. Morgan himself became Chief Engraver in 1917. He died in 1925.

Coin Specifications

Country:  United States
Year Of Issue:  1893
Denomination:  1 Dollar
Mint Mark:  CC (Carson City)
Mintage:  667,000
Alloy:  90% Silver, 10% Copper
Weight:  26.73 grams
Diameter:  38.10 mm
Edge Reeded
OBV Designer  George T. Morgan
REV Designer  George T. Morgan
Quality:  Business Strike

 

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United States 1904-O Morgan Silver Dollar | CoinWeek

Description In mid-to-late 1904, an article appeared in newspapers across the country with the blaring headline: “Passing of the Good Old American Silver Dollar.” Under the subtitle “It Is Probable That No More of Them Will Ever be Coined by the Government,” the author, Katherine Pope, reported “that ponderous and more or less troubling coin, […]

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Morgan Dollars for Every Collector: Introducing the Morgan 50 – Part II

  * * * A Collection of Morgan Dollars Everyone Can Complete Coin dealer and numismatic author Russ Augustin (AU Capital Management, RARCOA) joins Charles Morgan to discuss an innovative new set-collecting idea for Morgan dollars. Designed to fit the budget of every collector but still offer a longterm challenge and collecting goal, The Morgan 50 is comprised of fifty […]

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50 Morgan Dollars for Every Collector: Introducing the Morgan 50 – Part I

  * * * A Morgan Dollar Collection Every Collector Can Complete Coin dealer Russ Augustin (AU Capital Management, RARCOA) joins Charles Morgan to discuss an innovative new set collecting idea for the Morgan Dollar series. Designed to fit the budget of every collector but still offer a longterm challenge and collecting goal, The Morgan […]

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Morgan Dollars for Every Collector: Introducing the Morgan 50 – Part I

  * * * A Morgan Dollar Collection Every Collector Can Complete Coin dealer Russ Augustin (AU Capital Management, RARCOA) joins Charles Morgan to discuss an innovative new set-collecting idea for the Morgan Dollar series. Designed to fit the budget of every collector but still offer a longterm challenge and collecting goal, The Morgan 50 […]

The post Morgan Dollars for Every Collector: Introducing the Morgan 50 – Part I appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

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United States 1904-O Morgan Silver Dollar

In mid-to-late 1904, an article appeared in newspapers across the country with the blaring headline: “Passing of the Good Old American Silver Dollar.” Under the subtitle “It Is Probable That No More of Them Will Ever be Coined by the Government,” the author, Katherine Pope, reported “that ponderous and more or less troubling coin, the […]

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Ezerman on the 1888-O “Hot Lips” Morgan Dollar

By Rob Ezerman for CoinWeek …..   The spectacular and whimsical 1888-O Doubled Die Morgan dollar gained widespread attention with the early work of silver dollar specialists Leroy Van Allen and George Mallis in the late 1960s. They catalogued the coin as the 1888-O VAM-4. A few years later a popular movie would inspire collectors […]

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Big Things Happened at the United States Mint in March

By CoinWeek …..   One might think that as March takes its turn in the calendar’s monthly procession that the business of the United States Mint might be settling into a familiar groove. But the following notable moments tell a different story. Far from being a month offering more of the same, March has historically been […]

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Roger Burdette: First 1878-S Morgan Silver Dollars Struck

By Roger W. Burdette, special to CoinWeek ….. The first standard silver dollars designed by George T. Morgan were struck at the San Francisco Mint on April 17, 1878. A box containing 10 pairs of dollar dies was shipped on April 8 and arrived at the Mint on the evening of April 16. The dies […]

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Roger Burdette: First 1878-S Morgan Silver Dollars Struck

By Roger W. Burdette, special to CoinWeek …..   The first standard silver dollars designed by George T. Morgan were struck at the San Francisco Mint on April 17, 1878. A box containing 10 pairs of dollar dies was shipped on April 8 and arrived at the Mint on the evening of April 16. The […]

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United States 1889-CC Morgan Dollar

Run mainly by United States Mint officials from the Republican Party, the Carson City Mint was shuttered by President Grover Cleveland, a Democrat, in September 1885. It wasn’t until after the next presidential election when Benjamin Harrison, a Republican, was elected in 1889 that the branch mint once again received funding. However, due to this […]

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United States 1889-CC Morgan Dollar

Run mainly by United States Mint officials from the Republican Party, the Carson City Mint was shuttered by President Grover Cleveland, a Democrat, in September 1885. It wasn’t until after the next presidential election when Benjamin Harrison, a Republican, was elected in 1889 that the branch mint once again received funding. However, due to this […]

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United States 1884-S Morgan Dollar

By 1884, the San Francisco Mint was clearly run low on space to store millions of unneeded silver cartwheels. As a result, the 1884-S Morgan dollar is its smallest issuance until that date. The San Francisco Mint struck 3.2 million Morgan dollars in 1884 – a 51% decrease from the prior year. Nevertheless, in regard […]

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Counterfeit Protection: 1881-S Morgan Dollar

From the NGC by Max Spiegel, Numismatic Researcher Raised areas and the incorrrect shape of the mintmark identify this 1881-S Morgan as a counterfeit. The 1881-S Morgan dollar is not a coin that you would expect to see faked. It is easily the most common date in the Morgan dollar series, and NGC has graded […]

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Big Things Happened at the United States Mint in March

By CoinWeek …..   One might think that as March takes its turn in the calendar’s monthly procession that the business of the United States Mint might be settling into a familiar groove. But the following notable moments tell a different story. Far from being a month offering more of the same, March has historically been […]

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Spectacular 1886 Morgan Dollar Die Cap Error to be Auctioned by GreatCollections

Famous coin one of Amon Carter’s personal favorites   One of the greatest error coins known, the 1886 Morgan Dollar Obverse Die Cap graded PCGS MS64, has been consigned to GreatCollections and will be sold without reserve in their January 9, 2022, auction. Viewed at an angle, the coin has a high, curved rim that […]

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Collecting Carson City (CC) Coinage: Part Two – Silver Dollars

By Victor Bozarth for PCGS …… In the first installment of this three-part series on collecting the coinage of the Carson City (CC) Mint, I covered the three smaller silver denominations produced by that famous mint in Nevada, including dimes, quarters, and half dollars. Here in part two, I turn to the “cartwheels” – silver […]

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United States 1881-S Morgan Dollar

The 1881-S Morgan dollar is a large silver coin that was struck at the San Francisco branch of the United States Mint. Known more officially as the Liberty Head dollar, the Morgan dollar is named for designer George T. Morgan, who served as a U.S. Mint engraver from 1876 until his death in 1925. He […]

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United States 1886 Morgan $1 Silver Coin

Description: The 1886 Morgan dollar, known more officially as the Liberty Head dollar, is a silver coin that was struck at the United States Mint in Philadelphia. Nearly 20 million 1886 Morgan dollars were made, and while the vast majority were ultimately melted, enough survive today to satisfy general collector demands. The Morgan dollar, as […]

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Counterfeit Coin Detection: 1889-CC Morgan Dollar with Joined Halves

This Counterfeit Coin forgery required the joining of two coins to mimic a rare year and mintmark combination Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) …….. NGC graders identify counterfeit coins with added or altered mint marks each and every day. These alterations are seen so often that we devoted an entire article to them last year, which […]

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United States Mint Offering 2021 Morgan and Peace Dollars in Three Pre-Order Windows

On sale for two weeks each or until mintage is depleted, with shipping in October   The United States Mint today announced that the 2021 renditions of the classic Morgan and Peace Dollars will be available in three pre-order windows, beginning on May 24, June 1, and June 7, with each order window lasting two […]

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United States 1904-O Morgan Silver Dollar

Description In mid-to-late 1904, an article appeared in newspapers across the country with the blaring headline: “Passing of the Good Old American Silver Dollar.” Under the subtitle “It Is Probable That No More of Them Will Ever be Coined by the Government,” the author, Katherine Pope, reported “that ponderous and more or less troubling coin, […]

The post United States 1904-O Morgan Silver Dollar appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Big Things Happened at the United States Mint in March

By CoinWeek ….. One might think that as March takes its turn in the calendar’s monthly procession that the business of the United States Mint might be settling into a familiar groove. But the following notable moments tell a different story. Far from being a month offering more of the same, March has historically been a […]

The post Big Things Happened at the United States Mint in March appeared first on CoinWeek.

Continue Reading on CoinWeek

Big Things Happened at the United States Mint in March

By CoinWeek …..   One might think that as March takes its turn in the calendar’s monthly procession that the business of the United States Mint might be settling into a familiar groove. But the following notable moments tell a different story. Far from being a month offering more of the same, March has historically been […]

The post Big Things Happened at the United States Mint in March appeared first on CoinWeek.

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United States 1887 Morgan Silver Dollar

Description Morgan dollar production continued at its Congressionally mandated pace in 1887, despite the fact that even 10 years into the series’ run it had failed to gain a meaningful place as a circulating coin for most Americans. The 1887 Morgan dollar, known more officially as the Liberty Head dollar, is a silver coin struck […]

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United States 1893-CC Morgan Dollar

Description The Morgan dollar gets its name from United States Mint engraver George T. Morgan, who designed the dollar coin in competition with then-Chief Engraver William Barber. The two had a generally cordial relationship, though numismatists throughout the generations have supposed that Barber may have been envious of Morgan’s talent as an engraver and treated […]

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CoinWeek Streaming News: Classic Silver – the 1883-CC Morgan Dollar

CoinWeek Streaming News is brought to you by NGC. For information about NGC’s current grading specials and services, as well as to look up certs, pricing information, and current populations, visit www.ngccoin.com. * * * CoinWeek Editor Charles Morgan hosts this episode of CoinWeek Streaming News live from our new studio. In this episode, we show off […]

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PeaceDollar-7

Opportunity in Morgan, Peace Dollars

By Richard Giedroyc
All sectors of the coin market continue to thrive. Bullion and bullion-impacted coins continue to trade in a tight price range that mirrors the spot price of silver and gold. Overall, the spot price for bullion silver continues to underperform, however there are eager buyers for this metal at current levels

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CoinWeek IQ: United States 1921-S Morgan Dollar Zerbe Proof

Description The Zerbe Proof 1921-S Morgan dollar is one of the rarest and most enigmatic issues of the Morgan dollar series. The Morgan dollar, known more officially as the Liberty Head dollar, is a silver coin that was struck at each branch of the United States Mint in operation between 1878 and 1904 and then once […]

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Coronavirus

Coronavirus Fears Boost Spot Price of Gold

The soaring price of gold coupled with an increasing number of significantly rare and expensive coins appearing in recent auctions bode well for the near-future business of coins.
While a strong stock market offers discretionary money, with which to encourage diversification through buying collectibles as hard assets, fears such as those due to the economic impact of the coronavirus are boosting the spot price of gold. Bullion and heavily bullion-impacted silver and especially gold coins are drawing a lot of interest from investors, likely for this reason

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1796-10c-ultimate

Great Collections to Auction Rattlers, Old Holders

1796 Draped Bust dime graded MS-63 in small PCGS “rattler” holder. (All images courtesy GreatCollections.)
GreatCollections is offering what it calls the Ultimate Collection of Rattlers and Old Holders, the auction firm announced Nov

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The Coin Analyst: Girl on the Silver Dollar and the Merging of Greco-Roman and American Visions of Liberty

By Louis Golino for CoinWeek ….. Girl on the Silver Dollar by Roger W. Burdette (Seneca Mill Press, 2019) * * * Ask most collectors of the Morgan silver dollar issued from 1878 to 1921 who the model was for the image of Liberty that appears on the coin’s obverse, and they will likely say […]

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4919944-001-side-close-up

NGC Grades One of the First Morgan Dollars Struck in San Francisco

The following is distributed on behalf of Numismatic Guaranty Corporation 
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) has certified one of the first 10 Morgan Dollars struck by the San Francisco Mint. This incredible piece of numismatic history is now graded NGC SP 64.
Hundreds of millions of Morgan Dollars were struck from 1878 to 1921

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United States 1887-S Morgan Dollar

Description The 1887-S Morgan dollar, known more officially as the Liberty Head dollar, is a silver coin that was struck at the San Francisco branch of the United States Mint. The San Francisco Mint struck 1,771,000 Morgan dollars in 1887 and a majority of all of the U.S. gold coins struck during the year. Production […]

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A Coin Analyst Exclusive: An Insider’s Perspective on the Morgan & Peace 1921 Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin Act

By Louis Golino for CoinWeek ….. On July 16, 2019, United States Representatives Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO5) and Andy Barr (R-KY6) introduced H.R. 3757, the 2021 Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin Act, which calls for the issuance of 2021-dated Morgan and Peace dollars to mark the centennial of the transition from Morgan to Peace dollars in 1921. […]

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Previously Unreported Morgan Dollars Sets Emerge As PCGS All-Time Finest

(Woodland Hills, California) June 24, 2019 — Quietly and patiently acquiring superb quality coin-after-coin over the past 14 years, an Illinois collector working with Barry Stuppler of Mint State Gold by Stuppler and Company in Woodland Hills, California has now assembled the all-time finest collection of circulation strike Morgan silver dollars.
The previously unreported collection is now listed as all-time finest in five different Morgan dollar categories in the popular PCGS Set Registry®.
Known as The Illinois Set and now insured for $12 million, its grade point average surpasses such famous Hall of Fame and previous top Morgan dollar circulation strike sets as Jack Lee, Coronet Collection, California1 and IPS

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Rainbow Toned 1882-S Morgan Silver Dollar With Gold CAC and OGH at GreatCollections

Morgan Dollar in OGM holder and Gold CAC Sticker On Sunday, May 5, GreatCollections is closing the bidding on a PCGS MS-63 1882-S Morgan dollar in a first generation Old Green Holder and given a gold sticker by CAC. The record price for an 1882-S Morgan dollar is $24,675, which was achieved by an MS-68 specimen in September 2016. For more information […]

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Morgan Dollars Headline Heritage Platinum Night at Central States

A total of 58 lots will be offered in “The Perfection Collection of DMPL/Prooflike Morgan Dollars” during Heritage Auctions’ Platinum Night on April 25 at 6 p.m. at the Central States Numismatic Society Show in Schaumburg, Illinois

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NCIC: Finest Known of Only Six Aluminum Morgan Dollars Missing or Stolen

Recent Alerts From the Numismatic Crime Information Center   By Doug Davis – Founder & President, Numismatic Crime Information Center (NCIC) …… Missing/Stolen – Rare Finest Known Aluminum Morgan A registered USPS package has been reported missing/stolen. The package contained the following coin: 1885 Edge Lettered Aluminum Snowden $1 Morgan, PCGS PR68 Cameo Judd-1749 CAC. […]

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VDB initials quietly return in 1918

Why were the initials VDB resumed on the obverse of the Lincoln cent in 1918?
The initials were restored following the replacement of Secretary of the Treasury Franklin MacVeagh with William McAdoo in 1913 and the passing of U.S. Mint coin designer Charles E

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Heritage Auctions’ Beverly Hills US Coins Signature Auction: Lots You Need to Know

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek …..   On December 13 and 14, Heritage Auctions will conduct their last U.S. Coins Signature Auction of the 2018 calendar year. The sale features 2,964 lots, including early U.S. gold, type coins, numerous CAC-approved coins certified by NGC and PCGS, and a complete set of silver […]

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“Most beautifully toned gold coin” recovered with SS Central America treasure

“Supernova” Double Eagle will be publicly displayed for the first time at the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Philadelphia
(July 23, 2018) — Named the “Supernova,” an 1857-S Double Eagle with unique, mind-blowing toning was among the thousands of U.S

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NGC Grades New York Bank Hoard of 16,000 Morgan Dollars

SARASOTA, Fla. (July 16, 2018) — Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) has certified the New York Bank Hoard, a group of 16,000 Morgan Dollars that had been stored in sealed US Treasury bags for more than 50 years. The remarkably well-preserved hoard boasts a number of high grade pieces, including 118 that graded NGC MS 67. […]

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Spitting Eagles, Alligator Eyes and Donkey Tails: Three Morgan Dollar Varieties

Morgan Dollar Varieties By Ron Drzewucki – Modern Coin Wholesale ….. Outside of a “Bugs Bunny” Franklin half dollar, it’s hard to beat some of the colorful names attributed to Morgan Dollar Varieties over the years. I don’t often write about them, so to “fill in the gaps” and maybe introduce people to one of […]

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“Dollar Day” session of Legend’s 26th Regency Auction a record breaker

In its first ever two-day auction, Legend Rare Coin Auctions’ Regency Auction 26 began with an explosive start. The first day’s offering, focused solely on silver dollars, anchored by the P

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Legend Rare Coin Auctions Regency 25 Sale U.S. Coins Video Preview

 Legend Rare Coin Auctions will offer more than 300 handpicked PCGS and NGC graded coins, chosen for high appeal and quality, at their January 25, 2018 Regency Auction 25 at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Last Vegas. In this CoinWeek Exclusive Auction Preview, editor Charles Morgan discusses eight coins that he reviewed at […]

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NGC Certifies Only 1893-CC Morgan Dollar in a GSA Hoard ‘Hard Pack’

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) has graded the only 1893-CC Morgan Dollar known in a GSA Hoard “hard pack.” The unique rarity was submitted to NGC at last week’s 2018 Florida United Numismatists (FUN) show in Tampa, Florida. “GSA Hoard” is the name for a cache of several million silver dollars that had been held in […]

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Editor’s Choice: eBay US Coin Highlights of the Week

By CoinWeek …..   Each day, CoinWeek’s editors comb eBay’s thousands of numismatic auctions and listings in search of 10 Cool Coins! that you need to know. Today, we focus on US Coins. Today’s highlights include the finest Eisenhower dollar collection ever built; a superb gem 1881 Proof Set; the finest known Templeton Reid $2.50 […]

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United States 1886 Morgan $1 Silver Coin

Description: The 1886 Morgan dollar, known more officially as the Liberty Head dollar, is a silver coin that was struck at the United States Mint in Philadelphia. Nearly 20 million 1886 Morgan dollars were made, and while the vast majority were ultimately melted, enough survive today to satisfy general collector demands. The Morgan dollar, as […]

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Market Whimsy: Terminal Point

Every coin except the great rarities has a Terminal Point By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker …. Charles and Hubert’s column Market Whimsy, which originally appeared in the American Numismatic Association (ANA) magazine The Numismatist, won the 2016 Numismatic Literary Guild’s award for Best Column, Non-Profit Large Publications. This article consists of two columns that were […]

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Review of National Numismatic Certification

Increasingly I have been seeing slabs by National Numismatic Certification, a Florida firm, whose coins I sometimes bid on despite its grading being inconsistent at times, with flaws that would disqualify coins at PCGS or NGC. But that’s not an issue if you know how to grade, because some NNC-holdered coins are grade-worthy and, on occasion, near what a top company might award

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Grading Results of Cleaning and Old Green Holders

Remember these coins? Two on the right were cleaned with MS70 detergent and two with an undisclosed dilution of water and Jewel Luster, a dipping product. All were cracked out of PCGS holders to test cleaning and grading consistency

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CoinWeek IQ: CoinWeek Walks Through an NGC Coin Submission at the ANA World’s Fair of Money – 4K Video

CoinWeek IQ: Analysis and Insights from the editors of CoinWeek.com ….. Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) is one of the leading grading services in the rare coin industry. In this CoinWeek IQ video, CoinWeek editor Charles Morgan submits 13 gold and silver coins for grading at NGC, watches as his order is grading by NGC’s expert […]

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CoinWeek Podcast #5: CoinWeek: The Morgan Dollar vs. the American Silver Eagle, Part II – Audio: 7:11

In this CoinWeek podcast, editor Charles Morgan adapts ModernCoinWholesale founder and former NGC Grader Ron Drzewucki’s second article on the differences between and the similarities of two of America’s favorite collectible coins: the Morgan dollar and the American Silver Eagle. In this podcast, toning, strike, and packaging are covered. “The Morgan Dollar vs. the American […]

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CoinWeek Podcast #5: CoinWeek: The Morgan Dollar vs. the American Silver Eagle, Part II – Audio: 7:11

In this CoinWeek podcast, editor Charles Morgan adapts ModernCoinWholesale founder and former NGC Grader Ron Drzewucki’s second article on the differences between and the similarities of two of America’s favorite collectible coins: the Morgan dollar and the American Silver Eagle. In this podcast, toning, strike, and packaging are covered. “The Morgan Dollar vs. the American […]

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Coin Collecting and Numismatics – Thoughts on Rarity, Part 3

By Harvey Stack – Founder, Stack’s Bowers…. Part 1 Part 2 Here I continue my thoughts on rarities, and the factors that affect this important aspect of numismatics. As noted, true rarity cannot be caused by a collector through hoarding or manipulation, although sometimes temporary rarity can be achieved. During the early days of the […]

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CoinWeek Podcast #3: CoinWeek: The Morgan Dollar vs. the American Silver Eagle, Part I – Audio: 7:41

ModernCoinWholesale founder and former NGC Grader Ron Drzewucki shares with CoinWeek readers and listeners his take on the differences between and the similarities of two of America’s favorite collectible coins: the Morgan dollar and the American Silver Eagle. The Morgan dollar was produced from 1878 to 1904, and then again in 1921. The American Silver […]

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CoinWeek Podcast #3: CoinWeek: The Morgan Dollar vs. the American Silver Eagle, Part I – Audio: 7:41

ModernCoinWholesale founder and former NGC Grader Ron Drzewucki shares with CoinWeek readers and listeners his take on the differences between and the similarities of two of America’s favorite collectible coins: the Morgan dollar and the American Silver Eagle. This CoinWeek podcast is based on an article that was originally published in print on CoinWeek.com on August […]

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The Market for High and Low End 1884-CC Morgan Dollars – Video: 2:59

  In this video, Andy Wedding, numismatist with Larry Shapiro Rare Coins, pulls two historic 1884-CC Morgan dollars out and discusses with CoinWeek how the coins differ in eye appeal and market value. An informative piece for collectors of GSA Morgan dollars.   Copyright © CoinWeek March 2015 COINWeek is the most advanced independent on-line media source for […]

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The Morgan Dollar vs. the American Silver Eagle, Part 2

By Ron Drzewucki – www.moderncoinwholesale.com Last week, it was tech specs and design. This week, I wanted to talk about the Morgan dollar and American Silver Eagle’s “eye appeal”–specifically, toning and strike. By extension, the topic covers some aspects of the series’ collectibility.   Toning Morgan dollars are some of the most beautifully toned American coins. […]

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CAC buys Eliasberg 1893-S Morgan Silver Dollar for $646,250 at auction in Las Vegas

News and Analysis regarding scarce coins, coin markets, and the coin collecting community, #245 A Weekly CoinWeek Column by Greg Reynolds… Morgan Silver Dollars were minted from 1878 to 1904 and again in 1921. The key business strike in the series is the 1893 San Francisco Mint issue. On Oct. 2, in Las Vegas, Legend […]

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Numismatic Quick Hits: 1804 Dollar Presentation + Mt.Gox No More + New Book from Miles Standish

by Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek ….. CoinWeek Gets Exclusive Rights to Film 1804 Dollar Presentation As reported last week, author and researcher Mark Ferguson will be giving a major presentation on the Dexter 1804 dollar at the Central States Numismatic Society Convention in Schaumburg, Illinois. The event will take place on April 24th at […]

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Numismatic Quick Hits: 1804 Dollar Presentation + Mt.Gox No More + New Book from Miles Standish

by Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek ….. CoinWeek Gets Exclusive Rights to Film 1804 Dollar Presentation As reported last week, author and researcher Mark Ferguson will be giving a major presentation on the Dexter 1804 dollar at the Central States Numismatic Society Convention in Schaumburg, Illinois. The event will take place on April 24th at […]

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Upcoming Central States Numismatic Society Auction Features Finest Known VAM

”Acquiring an 1887 with a clashed E is considered a landmark event by most variety specialists …, Jeff Oxman wrote in his book, The Hot 50. For more than a decade, that VAM has been listed in the TOP 10 by those who write about or collect VAMs. Recently, the sale prices of examples have […]

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