1881 Silver Dollar
The following post is pulled from Coin World editor Steve Roach’s Market Analysis column in the Oct. 27 issue.
Few coin series have as broad collector interest as Morgan silver dollars. Like fans of any long-running series with many date and Mint mark combinations, collectors often specialize while others just want a single example for type purposes. One area that experiences huge demand and often crazy auction results can be found in toned Morgan dollars. Especially on high-grade Mint State coins, some Morgan dollars have spectacular rainbow toning and when these coins are offered at auction, it’s anyone’s guess as to what they’ll bring. Here are three from Bob Simpson’s Sunnywood Collection that soared at Legend’s Oct. 2 Regency auction in Las Vegas, Nev:
1881-S Morgan dollar, MS-68+, CAC, $45,825
Description & Analysis As opposed to the San Francisco issue of this date, the 1881-O Morgan is much harder to come by in mint state. Some 5.7 million pieces were struck, but it seems the majority of those went into circulation.
1881 Silver Dollar
The 1881-S Morgan dollar is the quintessential type dollar as it’s widely available in high grades up to and including Mint State 67. In MS-68 it’s scarce, and while a handsome untoned example in this grade might cost $5,000, or so, at auction, when the example is magnificently toned, all bets are off.
On Oct. 2, one graded by Professional Coin Grading Service MS-68+ with a green Certified Acceptance Corp. sticker indicating quality within the grade brought $45,825; the presale estimate of $25,000 to $27,500 proved irrelevant. The magnificent dollar was described as follows: “Considered by some enthusiasts to be the ultimate finest toned Morgan known to the collecting community, this paradigm of perfection features rich vibrant banded rainbow toning over essentially flawless and highly lustrous surfaces.” If that wasn’t enough, it was the star of an ANACS marketing campaign as it was once housed in an ANACS MS-68 holder, and is used by PCGS in its marketing, too.
The Birth of America's beautiful Morgan Dollar – Minted from 1878-1904, and once again in 1921, the Morgan silver dollar is one of America's most popular collectible coins. To fully understand the history of these 90% silver beauties, we first have to go back to the era of our nation's great gold and silver rushes – particularly 1859 and the great Comstock Lode! Scarce 90% silver 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar with San Francisco Mint 'S' mintmark. 'Gunfight at the O.K. Corral' booklet and Deluxe Display Box. Bring home the silver spirit of the Wild West with The 1881-S Morgan Tombstone Silver Dollar Coin, showcased in this exclusive presentation from The.
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- 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar
Coin Info
The 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar was the first year for which there are relatively few die varieties. Those who closely follow the major VAM (Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis) varieties may disagree that 1881 was a relatively quiet year for Morgan Silver Dollars, but for most collectors, that year represents few challenges for many who are assembling a date-and-mintmark run of the series.
The 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar was produced in four mints: Carson City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. The most valuable 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar carries the 'CC' mintmark used by the Carson City Mint. It always carries a premium value because of very low production, making it the rarest 1881 Morgan Dollar. The New Orleans Mint used an 'O' and the San Francisco Mint an 'S”. The main mint in Philadelphia did not use a mintmark. Proof examples of Morgan Dollars from all years, including 1881, are rare which makes them expensive.
1881 Morgan Silver Dollar Mintage Figures
- 1881: 9,163,000; $35+
- 1881-CC: 296,000; $500+
- 1881-O: 5,708,000; $35+
- 1881-S: 12,760,000; $35+
- 1881 Proof: 984; $3,250+
The 1881-CC Morgan Silver Dollars have a much lower mintage than their branch mint counterparts. This is a good time to remind all Morgan Silver Dollar collectors, be they novices or seasoned enthusiasts, that all Carson City Mint Morgan Silver Dollars are quite scarce and are, collectively, among the most valuable and sought-after coins in the entire series. Morgan Silver Dollar value and much of the popularity of CC-mint silver dollars came to be in the 1970s, when the General Services Administration (GSA) sold off a large hoard of Carson City silver dollars. Today, Carson City Morgan Silver Dollars are generally divided into two categories: raw CC Morgan Silver Dollars and GSA Morgan Silver Dollars. The latter are those that are still in their 1970s GSA plastic holders, and usually command a premium above the prices listed in this article.
Other Years From This Coin Series
1881 Silver Dollar Coin Value
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1881 Silver Dollar Mint O
